The following is an excerpt from William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth (1606). Read the passage carefully. Then, write a well-organized essay in which you analyze the playwright's literary techniques and how they reveal the two characters' attitudes towards the subject.
MACDUFF
Bleed, bleed, poor country!
Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure,
For goodness dare not check thee. Wear thou thy wrongs;
The title is affeered.—Fare thee well, lord.
I would not be the villain that thou think’st
For the whole space that’s in the tyrant’s grasp,
And the rich East to boot.
MALCOLM
Be not offended.
I speak not as in absolute fear of you.
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke.
It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash
Is added to her wounds. I think withal
There would be hands uplifted in my right;
And here from gracious England have I offer
Of goodly thousands. But, for all this,
When I shall tread upon the tyrant’s head,
Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country
Shall have more vices than it had before,
More suffer, and more sundry ways than ever,
By him that shall succeed.
In his tragic play Macbeth, William Shakespeare includes specific literary techniques to express characters’ emotions and ideas. Shakespeare utilizes devices like personification to magnify issues and establish contrast or agreement between characters. As Macduff and Malcolm evaluate the ravaged state of their home country, Shakespeare reveals their individual attitudes through the literary devices he employs in the text.
ReplyDeleteMacduff heavily grieves over the damage a tyrant inflicted on his country, and Shakespeare personifies the country for dramatic effect. Macduff cries, “Bleed, bleed, poor country” (IV.iii.32), and the personification conveys Macduff’s deep affection for his country and how he considers its damage as disturbing as damaging a human being. An apostrophe appears in Macduff’s dialogue as he lashes out at the cause of national injustice: “Great tyranny…wear thou thy wrongs” (IV.iii.33,35), and he magnifies his anger at the individual tyrant by addressing the abstract entity “Tyranny,” expressing his hatred for all its forms. The uninhibited rage Macduff reveals reflects his character, particularly his inclination to take immediate action against the tyrant who harmed his land so severely.
Sharing the same views of the tyrant as Macduff, Malcolm also seeks to overthrow the tyrant king. However, Malcolm’s diction creates contrast with Macduff, as Malcolm advises him: “Be not offended,” and proceeds to somberly describe the injustices committed by the king. Malcolm begins to speak with the metaphor, “Our country sinks beneath the yoke” (IV.iii.40), giving the country animal-like attributes. The statement suggests a level of helplessness and pity, but instead of degrading the country, Malcolm uses the idea as a drive to fight the tyrant, and he declares, “For all this, I shall tread upon the tyrant’s head” (IV.iii.46). The contrast in Macduff and Malcolm’s diction displays their differences in character, but their words ultimately conjure up similar sentiment.
William Shakespeare carefully employs literary devices to characters’ dialogue. The devices further the plot by building tension, and develop characters through their versatility. Through the words of a master playwright, two characters can be both alike and different instantaneously, and Macduff and Malcolm prove this in their discussion.
In their impassioned exchange, Macduff and Malcolm lament the fall of their beloved country in the hands of the tyrannical King Macbeth. The two observe their country deteriorating and suffering around them as Macbeth continues to corrupt the title of King in his murderous rage. Shakespeare’s use of personification, imagery, and tone reveal the characters’ vehemence and regret towards their country’s miserable state.
ReplyDeleteTheir concern and patriotism for their country unites Macduff and Malcolm. Both characters personify the suffering of Scotland, Macduff proclaiming “Bleed, bleed poor country!” and Malcolm, “it weeps, it bleeds”. The powerful image of the country’s wounds strengthens the portrayal of the characters’ unease. Personification of Scotland, “sink[ing] beneath the yoke” evokes images of slavery, debasement, and subjugation. By comparing the country’s suffering to that of a slave, Shakespeare places the subject of the two characters’ stress on the same level as slavery in Biblical times and the Roman Era, to slavery beyond his time in America, a dark cloud over the country’s history. The comparison draws upon an age-old and historically infamous practice, which resounds with readers of all ages.
Macduff’s tone and diction reveals his despair and feeling of defeat. In an indirect address to Macbeth, Macduff tells the King he ought to “lay thou thy basis sure” because his title is “afeered”, the good are too afraid to challenge him. Macduff’s words exude irony; although Macbeth himself believes in his infallibility and the safety of his title, this hubris ultimately leads him to his downfall. He brings about his own psychological decline, while the good, including Macduff and Malcolm challenge him and bring about his downfall in battle. The good ultimately prevails and the honor of the noble title of King is restored. Macduff expresses the essence of true kingship in his speech to Malcolm. He tells the young royal he would not join Macbeth even if offered ample power and riches.
In his response, Malcolm expresses concern for his own incompetence as the subsequent King to Macbeth. He repeats similar phrases “more vices”, “more suffer”, and “more sundry” to articulate to Macduff his view of his Kingship in comparison to that of the tyrant Macbeth. Yet, even though Malcolm makes these claims, he nevertheless shows concern for his country in that he fears its future. He shares Macduff’s grief at its current, wounded state, and dreads what he proclaims is its darker future. A true corrupted tyrant like Macbeth merely expresses apathy towards the country’s current state and future.
Shakespeare’s use of personification illuminates the men’s mutual distress and dramatizes the state of their country. Both Macduff and Malcolm take differing stances on kingship, Macduff in strong opposition to joining Macbeth’s power-hungry rise to power and Malcolm doubting his abilities compared to Macbeth’s. However, both men portray positive and virtuous stances on kingship, each expressing care for one’s country.