Figurative Language In Macbeth

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Figurative Language is “the language using figure of speech- is language that can not be taken literally (or should not be taken literally only).” (Arp 70). Similes is “comparing things that are essentially unlike.” (Arp 70) The following demonstrates the use of simile in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. “Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood hat fears a painted devil. (Shakespeare II.ii.73-75). After Macbeth returns from kills Duncan, he brings back the evidence with him. “Infirm of purpose!” (Shakespeare II.ii.72) Lady Macbeth calls her husband “Inform of purpose.” The word “infirm” means “Not physically or mentally strong...” Basically she calls Macbeth weak and a …show more content…
How weak can he be in carrying out this plan? This is because Macbeth killed Duncan and he is shocked that he had just done this. “Give me the daggers.” (Shakespeare II.ii.73) The audience sees a gender reversal as Lady Macbeth is the one with the pants in the relationship. While Macbeth is to afraid to bring the daggers back so Lady Macbeth decides to do it herself. Typically, during this time, women are usually portrayed as weaker than their male counterparts. This brings a new perspective to people. “The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood hat fears a painted devil.” (Shakespeare II.ii.73-75) Lady Macbeth’s compares sleeping and the dead to “pictures” which exemplifies her bizarre courage and odd state of mind after the murder. Lady Macbeth says that only a child fears “a painted devil” because children often fear the picture on the wall even though it doesn’t do anything. She is calling her husband a scared little child This represents another example of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth switching roles. “Now does he feel his title Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe Upon a dwarfish thief.” (Shakespeare V,ii,23-25) Angus