Examine the effectiveness of metaphor in the play
Throughout the play, and indeed in a great number of Shakespeare plays, there is a strong presence of metaphors and symbolism. These instances add richness of language to the text, and also tell of what will/may happen later in the play, occasionally adding a very slight comical element to some lines. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony, a form of metaphor, a great deal throughout the play, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. For example, in the scene, the three witches makes a number of references to animals in casting their spell to finish the scene, i.e. Graymalkin and Paddock. This suggests a supernatural theme, which is also recurrent throughout the play.
The play is rather highly politically charged too, as one of the first showings was played with King James I in the audience. Not only was he a not so distant descendant of Macbeth and his family, but he was also rather concerned with the idea of Witchery and the supernatural world. So, as one can imagine, it must have brought some intrigue to the stage when the King in the play showed his face in comparison to the real King. At a later point in the play, a certain character Macbeth holds a mirror out at his arm’s length toward the audience. An interesting thought on this is that when the play was performed, the actor playing Macbeth would have pointed the mirror in the direction of the real King about the time he says ‘That two-fold balls and treble sceptres carry’ to ‘reflect’ the idea of King James being ruler of England, Ireland and Scotland, which, along with the theme of witchery, would interest and please the King in the audience.
