Technique
Repetition
Aside
Soliloquy/ aside
Characterisatio
n/ dialogue
Juxtaposition/
characterisatio
n
Exit (Attendant)
Lady Macbeth: The raven
Stage direction,
soliloquy
Analysis
- The witches use their supernatural powers
to prophesy Macbeths future and
manipulate his ambition.
- The witches abuse of their power drives
the action of the play, planting the scene
for Macbeths violent reign.
- Ross and Angus message that Duncan
has granted Macbeth the title of Thane of
Cawdor gives credibility to the witches
prophecies.
Shakespeare
uses
an
aside
to
communicate Macbeths thoughts as he
begins to consider that he may become
King and reveal his ambitious character to
the audience, whilst veiling it from Banquo.
- Shakespeare uses a soliloquy (once again
in the form of an aside) to allow the
audience to learn of Macbeths dark and
treacherous thoughts, while hiding them
from the other characters on stage.
- It is clear that Macbeths ambitious nature
has been quickly awoken by the witches
prophecies. They have abused their power
to great effect, with Macbeth already
considering murdering his King.
- Banquos comment serves to emphasise
that Macbeth is deep in thought after
hearing the prophecies. He is so lost in
thought that Banquo notices his distraction.
- Directly in contrast to Macbeth, Banquo is
not so easily taken in. He is cautious of the
supernatural beings, and warns that they
often operate in ways that seduce men into
devious actions, and lead them to their
downfall.
- Serves to emphasise that Macbeth and
Banquo do have the power of choice over
their actions in the face of the witches
prophecies/ ambition and temptation
- The stage direction indicates that Lady
Macbeths attendant exits the stage,
Dialogue,
characterisatio
n
Exit Servant
Macbeth: To be thus is
nothing| But to be safely thus.
Our fears in Banquo| Stick
deep (3.1.49-51)
Stage
directions,
soliloquy
Staging,
dialogue
Characterisatio
n
Diction,
Characterisatio
n, Biblical
allusions
Monologue