 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
CourseworkHelp
:Characters and Language in Macbeth
Characters
What kind of people are the characters in this drama? How can we decide?
Characters in Shakespearean drama are judged by (i) their actions; (ii)
what others say of them (iii) what they themselves say in public (iv)
by what they say in soliloquy, i.e. when thinking aloud or in ‘asides’
. We tend to judge people by their actions and by what they say in public,
but these are not always a true reflection of the real character; people
do not always reveal themselves to others, so we can only accept this
evidence with reservation. In ‘Macbeth’ we learn that Duncan has been
deceived by the first Thane of Cawdor whom he considered to have been
“a gentleman on whom I built An absolute trust” yet who was guilty of
treason. Again Lady Macbeth’s words to Duncan, Act I, Sc. vi “Your servants
ever Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt, To make their
audit at your highness’ pleasure, Still to return your own”, are spoken
shortly after she has decided that he will be murdered. Only when they
think aloud,(soliloquy), can we accept without reservation what they say.
“In soliloquy lies truth”. At the same time there are different interpretations
of a soliloquy, and of the tone in which it is spoken. It all depends
on the reader’s attitude. It is a good approach to be open-minded, to
attempt to look at both sides of the question, before arriving at a conclusion.
Language In Macbeth
Language
Language is made up of words and sounds; it is concerned with creating
effect by producing images and by placing words. It includes syntax, diction
and even tone.
Imagery involves the working of the senses, the vivid description of an
odour, a melody, a visual picture, of taste or touch. Syntax refers to
the order of words in a sentence, the length of sentences. It is associated
with diction and imagery, e.g. in the use of inversion (changing the normal
order of words often for emphasis), eclipses (omitting certain words)
and antithesis (setting one word or idea against another with the object
of heightening the effect of what is said). Diction is the writer’s choice
of words. The dramatist may use religious terms, technical terms, dialect,
or may even create words. He may use multi-syllabic words, or monosyllabic
words. The imagery in Shakespeare has been discussed elsewhere. It is
vivid. In Act I,Sc.ii he compares an undecided battle to
“two spent swimmers, that do cling together and choke their art.”
We see the swaying armies; weary of battle, impeding one another, too
tired to strike, too frightened to break off the fight. A few lines on,
MacDonald is pictured as a kind of carcass with the flies of evil swarming
on him. “Swarm” is the memorable word here; it creates the picture. The
description of the battle by the Captain in this scene is made startling
by the violent imagery created by words and phrases like “smok’d with
bloody execution”, “unseamed him from the naves to the chaps”, “Reeking
wounds”. We see another Macbeth in Lady Macbeth’s description of him as
“too full of the milk of human kindness”, suggesting mildness and gentleness.
Shakespeare pictures the poetic, imaginative Macbeth in, “Now o’er the
one half-word, Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtain’d
sleep; witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecate’s offerings.” We visualise Tarquin
striding out to rape Lucrece and understand Macbeth’s horror at his own
deed. We see the other side of Macbeth in Act V,Sc.iii as he screams abuse
at his servant, “the devil damn thee black, thou cream-fac’d loon!”
NOTE: his use of antithesis in Act II,Sc.ii as Lady Macbeth tells herself,
“What had quench’d them hath given me fire” depicting the chamberlains’
minds befuddled with the same drink that sharpens her courage. In this
sense, too, the word “Shriek’d” describing the owl’s cry, emphasises the
pitch to which her mind had been raised. Malcolm’s speech in Act IV,Sc.iii
is an example of the effectiveness of ellipsis - “What I believe, I’ll
wail; What you know, believe; and what I can redress, As I shall find
the time to friend , I will.” It emphasises the decisiveness of Malcolm.
In Act IV,Sc.iii, the value of the catalogue is seen as Malcolm lists
the vices of Macbeth and a little later offsets them with “the King-becoming
graces”. In the same scene assonance and alliteration are used to accentuate
the bleak outlook for Scotland as Ross describes the scene to MacDuff,
“It cannot Be call’d our mother, but our grave: where nothing, But who
knows nothing, is once seen to smile; Where sighs and groans and shrieks
that rent the air Are made, not marr’d; where violent sorrow seems A modern
ecstasy”. Rich in assonance and alliteration and especially in imagery
is Macbeth’s speech when he learns of his wife’s death. His picture of
all time, “tomorrow”, “all our yesterdays”, “from day to day” is shown
as adding up to “dusty death”. Life is shown as a “brief candle” which
aptly pictures the uncertain flickering of man’s life span; his changing
fortunes. Life he depicts as an unreality without substance, as an actor
is also a shadow of reality. The “sound and fury” echo mankind’s futile
efforts to assert himself.
Atmosphere
Atmosphere may be created in several ways. A tense atmosphere may be produced
by staccato (quick-fire) dialogue as in Act II,Sc.ii, when Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth show their tension by the rapid, almost monosyllabic exchange
of question and answer. It may also be shown by the confrontation of two
antagonists - e.g. when Macbeth and MacDuff finally come face to face
in Act V,Sc.vii. The stage setting also contributes to atmosphere. The
thunder and lightning that accompany the appearance of the Witches and
the Apparitions, create an air of excited nervousness. The Sleepwalking
scene also induces a feeling of pity. Tension may be relaxed by humour.
The classic example of this is the Porter’s bawdy humour in the Knocking-at-the-Gate
scene which follows directly after the murder of Duncan.
Irony
Contributing to atmosphere is irony. Dramatic irony may be divided in
to (A) Irony of Situation, i.e. the placing together of people and events
is such a way that it may have some future significance. E.g. it is ironical
that Duncan has been betrayed by the first Thane of Cawdor, and now makes
Macbeth the new thane (who will also betray him). It is also ironic that
the Ghost of Banquo sits in Macbeth’s chair at the banquet, as his heirs
will take over the throne of Scotland now occupied by Macbeth.
(B) Irony of Speech, i.e. when the speaker uses words which, apart from
their obvious meaning, have for the audience a further meaning hidden
from the speaker, E.g. in Act I,Sc.vi Duncan says, “This castle hath a
pleasant seat; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle
senses.” The audience and reader are aware at this time that the murder
of Duncan is being planned within the walls of this same castle. In Act
II,Sc.iii, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth, “A little water clears us of this
deed.” We recall this in the Sleepwalking scene when she cries out, ”What,
will these ne’er be clean?”, and we realise how ironical her earlier remark
has been. The Apparitions’ prophecies about Birnam Wood and man of woman
born are also ironical in the circumstances of their fulfilment. In fact,
as mentioned elsewhere, the imagery of Appearance and Reality is in itself
ironical. Dramatic Irony must not be confused however with Irony of Tone,
i.e. when the speaker’s tone of voice belies the words he uses. An excellent
example of this is in the opening speech of Lennox in Act III,Sc.vi. Imagery:
There is so much imagery in ‘Macbeth’ that one may indicate only some
of the variety of examples to be found. There are many recurring images,
often inter-related, and associated with the different themes in the play.
The great bulk of Shakespearean metaphors and similes is drawn from simple,
everyday things. Nature is a rich source and provides much of the imagery
in ‘Macbeth’. Imagery, based on Appearance and Reality, Manliness, Light
and Darkness, Disease and Corruption is also common. Other imagery that
might be explored includes Clothing imagery, and Sleep imagery (which
may be associated with the imagery of Nature).