MACBETH Act 1 Scene 7

Shakespeare utilises metaphors in scene 7 to convey Macbeth’s thoughts to the audience. Macbeth’s first lines in scene 7 is a soliloquy where he states his thoughts about killing King Duncan and taking the throne. He comments on how Duncan trusts Macbeth and how he is a noble king that has no reason to be killed. Metaphors are a common feature throughout his soliloquy helping the audience paint a picture of what his thoughts are. One such example of this is when Macbeth says “Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague th’ inventor” This is a metaphor saying that any violence that Macbeth may do will have serious consequences. Another example is “Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself”. This is talking about how ambition is his only incentive, and that his obsession for power may take him to unknown and possibly dark places. His soliloquy is an example of dramatic irony, as he is saying these thoughts to the audience alone. He is trying to rationalize the murder of king Duncan but realising there would be no justification for it.