Why Does Shakespeare Use Animal Imagery In Macbeth

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Shakespeare concentrates attention to the intensity of the play by using animal imagery. To deepen the darkness and mood of the play, animals will be incorporated in the plot right when something tragic has occurred. In Act I of the play, the Old Man is talking with Ross about the strange events of the night when King Duncan was murdered by Macbeth. The Old Man says, “A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place, / Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed” (2.4.13-14). Here, animal imagery is used right after the murder of Duncan. It says that a falcon was killed by an owl, which is ironic. In reality, a falcon is the superior species that would kill the owl easily. This can be connected to Macbeth killing the king, Duncan. Also in act two, the