As King Duncan lied in the guest chambers of Macbeth’s castle, mumbling soft words, Macbeth plunged the dagger into King Duncan, killing Duncan, and securing the prophecy that Macbeth would procure the King’s throne. In Shakespeare’s tragic play Macbeth, Shakespeare creates the ruthless character Macbeth who is willing to go beyond any measure in order to attain the power of being king: including murder, deceit, betrayal and overpowering the divine right of Kings. Macbeth was first prompted with the idea of kingship when three witches presented him with their portent that he would become Thane of Cawdor then the next King of Scotland. Confused and dubious, Macbeth pays no heed to them, until King Duncan’s men themselves notify Macbeth that
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All of his nefarious deeds implement dramatic irony because the audience and readers know Macbeth’s plan to reach the status of king, but the other characters don’t know how far he is going to reach power. King Duncan’s death was the first example of how Macbeth struggled to gain power by any means necessary; moreover, it marked a transition of Macbeth’s guilt transmuting into ruthlessness for power. King Duncan had just recently honored Macbeth by dubbing him, the Thane of Cawdor. As a celebratory gesture, Duncan stayed in Macbeth’s castle as a guest at the time of Duncan’s murder. In this instance the audience knows Macbeth plans to kill Duncan while he sleeps, whereas the rest of the characters believe he is merely casting an amiable visit to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth justify their ambition to kill Duncan because they believe their power will bring them happiness. Ironically, once Duncan is dead, Macbeth feels entitled to kill more people to sustain his power which prompts him getting beheaded which is ultimately the loss of happiness. The use of irony Macbeth’s endeavor to take the crown adds to the theme of power, because it exhibits the scheme as secretive yet is a significant plan, disrupting the divine right to rule in addition to ameliorating Macbeth’s status of
All of his nefarious deeds implement dramatic irony because the audience and readers know Macbeth’s plan to reach the status of king, but the other characters don’t know how far he is going to reach power. King Duncan’s death was the first example of how Macbeth struggled to gain power by any means necessary; moreover, it marked a transition of Macbeth’s guilt transmuting into ruthlessness for power. King Duncan had just recently honored Macbeth by dubbing him, the Thane of Cawdor. As a celebratory gesture, Duncan stayed in Macbeth’s castle as a guest at the time of Duncan’s murder. In this instance the audience knows Macbeth plans to kill Duncan while he sleeps, whereas the rest of the characters believe he is merely casting an amiable visit to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth justify their ambition to kill Duncan because they believe their power will bring them happiness. Ironically, once Duncan is dead, Macbeth feels entitled to kill more people to sustain his power which prompts him getting beheaded which is ultimately the loss of happiness. The use of irony Macbeth’s endeavor to take the crown adds to the theme of power, because it exhibits the scheme as secretive yet is a significant plan, disrupting the divine right to rule in addition to ameliorating Macbeth’s status of