MACBETH Act 2 Scene 2

Shakespeare uses metaphors in this scene to emphasise the guilt that Macbeth has. In this scene, Macbeth murders Duncan in his sleep and is broken by it. He has lost his sense of morality and recognizes that the deed that he has just performed will most likely have terrible consequences. He carries such guilt of his actions, as said in the quote ‘No, this hand will rather, the multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red.’ He uses this metaphor does give an insight into Macbeth’s feelings on the murder by comparing it directly to the action of turning the seas red with the blood on his hands. This metaphor is saying that killing an innocent man in his sleep was so dishonourable and monstrous that nothing will cleanse him of his actions. In this case, a metaphor is used specifically to express Macbeth’s guilt effectively, because there is no specific word that can be used. The metaphor also highlights this specific part of the text, which can be foreshadowing of what is to come, and the consequences that will affect Macbeth in terrible ways. A metaphor is used effectively in scene 2 to express the emotions of Macbeth.