Sonnets
Number of syllables in a line of Iambic Pentameter
10
Serves as a foil to Macbeth because of his loyalty and integrity.
Banquo
"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!"
The "spot" symbolizes this:
Lady Macbeth's Guilt
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair" is an example of this device, where contradictory terms appear together.
Paradox
Macbeth’s hallucinations and sleepless guilt reveal this theme:
The rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean Sonnet
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
She calls on spirits to "unsex" her and is the driving force behind the murder of King Duncan.
Lady Macbeth
O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.
This quotation explains that Macbeth is:
Worried that the prophecy for Banquo will come true, and Banquo's offspring will be kings.
When Macbeth says, "Is this a dagger which I see before me," he’s experiencing this device, revealing his inner thoughts aloud.
Soliloquy
Lady Macbeth’s shift from dominance to madness supports this theme:
“The pursuit of power can erode morality and identity.”
The number of lines in a Shakespearean Sonnet
14
He is the rightful heir to the Scottish throne and flees to England after his father is murdered.
Malcolm
I shall do so; But I must also feel it as a man. I cannot but remember such things were That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on And would not take their part?
This quotation shows what about Macduff?
That he truly did love his family and regrets leaving them defenseless.
The bloody dagger, ghost of Banquo, and bloodstains that won’t wash away all serve as this type of recurring symbol.
Motif
The witches’ prophecies and Macbeth’s deceptive rise to power illustrate this:
“Appearances can be deceiving, and the truth is often hidden beneath the surface.”
The name of the last two lines of a Shakespearean Sonnet
Couplet
Macbeth ends the play seemingly not to even care about the death of Lady Macbeth, while this nobleman expresses his intense grief at the death of his wife and children, thereby becoming a foil for Macbeth.
Macduff
Hail, King! for so thous art. Behold where stands The usurper's cursed head. The time is free. I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl, That speak my salutation in their minds; Whose voices I desire aloud with mine-- Hail, King of Scotland!
The speaker of this quotation, declares Malcolm King.
Macduff
Lady Macbeth telling Macbeth to "look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't" is an example of this device that serves to create suspense.
Dramatic Irony
Macbeth’s repeated dilemma reflected in his internal conflict about Duncan's murder supports this theme:
While sometimes fate can intervene, humans still have the ability to choose their actions.
The name of the shift in tone in a Shakespearean Sonnet
Turn or Volta
Is angry because she wanted to be the one to manipulate Macbeth.
Hecate
Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more. By Sinel's death I know I am the Thane of Glamis. But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives...
Macbeth is surprised that the witches call him the Thane of Cawdor because...
He does not yet know that King Duncan has honored Macbeth for his loyal service in battle with the title of the traitor Macdonwald.
“Out, out brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow...” uses this device to compare life to a fleeting illusion.
Metaphor
The repeated references to blood and guilt develop this theme:
“Violence begets more violence and stains the conscience beyond repair.”