Shakespeare ‘Macbeth’ was written in 1606, it’s based on a man named Macbeth who wanted to become the king of Scotland (where he resides). The main theme of Macbeth is the spoiling nature of his unchecked ambition, which is displayed through his struggles against himself, his wife, and society all driven by the want of power. Dramatic irony is foreshadowed throughout the play by the use of many dramatic techniques. Some language devices are used to create imagery such as hallucinations pulled from a soliloquy. Both dramatic techniques and the use of language devices are the fundamentals in to understanding Macbeth. However, through a psychoanalytical lens Macbeth ambition to be king has pushed him to a point of no return thus leading him into his down fall
One way to analyze is through a psychoanalytic lens in which is the subconscious thoughts affect the conscious thoughts while the ego, super ego, and Id is affected. Throughout the play there’s been many conflicts starting with the three witches eventually ending with Macbeth’s death. After Macbeth’s wife whom is Lady Macbeth convinced Macbeth to kill the king; Macbeth is consumed with guilt. After the deed is done, he starts to regret it. In his conscious thoughts he might think he’s okay but his subconscious knows he’s done wrong. “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine”. This quote is to help further prove Macbeth was going insane.
The psychoanalytic lens can be broken down into three parts ID, Ego, and Super ego. The ID has to do with urges and Macbeth has an urge to kill King Duncan to become a king himself. The super ego is the complete opposite of the ID. Macbeth’s super ego is terrified and in remorse because of the kingdom everyone is talking and there’s so much hopelessness around because a kingdom has lost a king. Everyone is disheartened and heated Macbeth feels pressured and is suck on what to do. The ego is what balances the ID and super ego that is why his subconscious though come to light in his conscious thoughts.
Although Macbeth’s actions aren’t complete his fault. In the beginning scene three witches give him a prophecy in which sparks a want to be king. All awhile his wife, Lady Macbeth is telling to kill king Duncan, she wants him dead and manipulates Macbeth into think that what he wants also by questioning his manhood. “When you durst do it, then you were a man”. Macbeth is having a mental fight with himself and now his wife, his wife uses words to confuse and question himself. Thus, leading into the begging of the down fall.
Through a literary device, the mental state of Macbeth was expressed. “The dagger I see before me” is a soliloquy based on Macbeths mental state. The soliloquy reveals the Macbeth has hallucinate a dagger in his hands while there is nothing there. His subconscious and taking over his conscious because he’s so consumed with guilt. There’re voices in his head saying “Macbeth sleep no more”, he can’t sleep, can’t even think straight because he knows of what he did and no one can find out.
The irony of it all shapes the whole play Macbeth wants to be king so he kills the king while he cannot enjoy it because the guilt of it all. He continues to kill in order to remain in power until he becomes a despised tyrant who is destroyed by his own people. Lady Macbeth also has irony she was so shameful for Macbeth not wanting to kill while in the end she kills herself.
Macbeth was consumed with guilt for the want for power which led to his down fall. One a noble brave man to a tyrant among those who matter. Dramatic irony takes place throughout the story while the literary deceives help better interpret the meaning and sensation of the words. Macbeth who is a man with thoughts and feeling began to go mentally insane due to killing the king to become king. His ID took over when he killed while his super ego came back for him to make him think but his ego balanced it out and knew he was wrong.
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Dramatic Irony in William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.
(2022, December 15). Edubirdie. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/dramatic-irony-in-william-shakespeares-macbeth/
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2022 Dec 15 [cited 2024 Apr 26].
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