Macbeth CommentarY Essay, Research Paper

Macbeth Commentary

In Macbeth?s speech about the witches telling him their prophecies, central and

dramatic purpose are given in more than one way. Macbeth?s aside is mainly an inward

conflict in a case of man versus himself. Many times in the passage, Macbeth relays signs

of fear but with reward near by. Contained in Macbeth?s aside are very important

elements of dramatic purpose as well as a central purpose that foreshadows the underlying

theme of the whole play.

Central purpose is achieved through Macbeth?s arguments with himself and the

tone he conveys. He asks himself questions, attempting to work them out in his head,

giving the reader a short psychoanalysis of what he is thinking and why. The central

purpose in the passage is that of ultimate betrayal. The witches have given him prophecies

that he will become Thane of Cawdor and later the King of Scotland and one thinks that

will please Macbeth but in actuality it wreaks havoc with his emotions and feelings. ?If

good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make

my seated heart knock at my ribs…?? is a question posed by Macbeth to himself. The use

of such rhetoric lets the reader realize that there is inevitably something wrong with

Macbeth becoming king and that something will have to go down before his success.

Showing the reader that there is evil masked among the great success, gives off images of

betrayal and also that nothing is ever as it seems.

Dramatic purpose is shown in many ways throughout the passage. The main

instrument used to advance the drama in the passage are the questions that Macbeth asks

himself. The questions reveal that something is wrong and that Macbeth feels insecure

about receiving these positions, showing how much evil is rustling beneath the glory. Also

boosting the drama is Macbeth?s repetition of words favoring darkness. ?If ill….,?

?…horrid images…,? and ?…whose murder…,? all reemphasize the fact that above all,

darkness is ever present in the passage.

In the passage from Macbeth, dramatic purpose and central purpose are conveyed

to show the ultimate image of darkness and eventual betrayal of Duncan by Macbeth.

Although slight, Shakespeare skillfully goes around the point and turns the words into

more a foreshadowing image that a tell-all image. The tact in Shakespeare?s language is

essential the reader understanding the complexities of the play.