Diction In Macbeth

Upon initial reading, act I scene VII of Macbeth appears to be about the end of Duncan, but on further inquiry reveals itself to be a foreshadowing of Macbeth’s death, rather than Duncan’s. This is suggested with repetition of words like “fail”, and “hate”, hinting at what Macbeth will experience as a result of killing Duncan as opposed to the success he expected from it. There are also strands that contain words connoting danger, or harm. These strands included diction such as: poisoned, damnation, and death, all further backing up the idea that Duncan’s death will cause disorder and chaos in the world. This is done with the specific use of words like “damnation”, which can only be associated with Macbeth’s malevolence, as opposed to Duncan’s air of benevolence and justice. This tactic of association was also employed with the use of “poisoned” in reference to the souring of …show more content…
The strongest evidence of this rebound of actions - karma, even - was shown when Macbeth said “We still have judgment here, that we but teach bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague th' inventor”(39). The statement is foreshadowing, and even describing why Macbeth would meet the same fate, with the bloody instructions they taught being Duncan’s murder, which would later “return to plague th’ inventor” in the form of Macduff killing Macbeth. This chapter is incredibly important, because it sets up the rest of the play by introducing the theme of the inescapable nature of fate. In subtly suggesting that Macbeth will meet an end similar to Duncan, it reinforces the idea of fate being an all-powerful force - that just as the fate’s prophecy came to fruition, so too will fate act as a force of karma, and bring Macbeth’s actions back upon