Act 3, Scene 3 In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'

At this point, Act 3, scene 3, in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, Macbeth has just been given news that his plan went awry. After obtaining the throne, Macbeth attempts to murder Banquo and his son, Fleance; however, Fleance escaped. Shakespeare’s use of consonance, despondent diction, and symbolism conveys Macbeth’s disappointment towards himself, his plan, and his accomplices in murder.
Late in the passage, Macbeth moaned, “But now I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confined, bound” (26). Shakespeare’s use of consonance, the repeated “d” sound, illustrated how Macbeth is haunted by his faulty plan. The repeated “d” sound implies that Macbeth is able to hear Fleance’s heartbeat in his head. However, typically, authors use a repeated “b” sound …show more content…
Using words like “saucy” (27), “fit” (23), and “confined” (26), Shakespeare depicts Macbeth frustrated with himself. Alone, saucy has a positive connotation, yet when put in context, “To saucy doubts and fears” (27), saucy takes on a more adverse undertone, This choice of diction creates a tense and disgruntled atmosphere. After hearing the news, Shakespeare’s choice of diction portrays Macbeth discouraged. Towards the start of the passage, Shakespeare makes use of many similes which build to a larger point. “Whole as the marble” (24), Shakespeare begins the line of similes. This phrase implies that the plan was large and solid, as a marble is. It also suggests that there was little room to breathe, little room for error because a marble does not have much air inside. Shakespeare continues this idea with the following simile: “founded as the rock” (24). Founded, meaning originated, indicates that the plan seemed brilliant at the start. That it was a solid plan to begin. However, prior knowledge that the plan went amiss