How does Shakespeare use language and dramatic devices to reveal the duality of Macbeth in Act one to the audience?

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How does Shakespeare use language and dramatic devices to reveal the duality of Macbeth in Act one to the audience?

In Macbeth Shakespeare presents the themes of illusion and reality by using language and a wide variety of devices. In the play Macbeth is portrayed as both Good and Evil and Shakespeare uses a number of language and dramatical devices to convey this to the audience. In this essay I will explore how the devices are used to show the duality of Macbeth and how this affects the audience.  

Firstly in Act 1 Scene 7 during the soliloquy Macbeth shows his good side by giving many reasons not to kill Duncan. One example of this is lines 13-14 First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then his, as his host The word kinsmen shows that Macbeth cannot kill the king because he is his Family and to kill a family member would ruin all of the good opinions of Macbeth and he would be shunned by society. This would then strip him of his titles such as The Thane of Cawdor and the prestige’s which go with them, therefore resulting in Macbeth never being able to become king. Another reason why Macbeth would not kill the king is vengeance. “Bloody instructions, which being taught, return To plague th'inventor” the adjective bloody describes the brutality of murder which adds to the sinister thoughts of whether to kill the king in Macbeth's soliloquy. The word plague suggests that the inventor which is Macbeth would be infected resulting with his death. The word “plague” in this instance takes on both a mental and physical meaning. For example Macbeth would be plagued in his mind with the terrible crime of killing his king but also he would be physically killed in the most brutal and horrible way like the plague. However Macbeth does not wish to kill the king on these grounds. This shows Macbeth's good side because he does not resort to violence and death to carry out his deep dark desires.

Religion also plays a prominent role in the decision of whether Macbeth will kill the king or not. For example the deep damnation of his taking off this means that if Macbeth was to kill the king he would be dammed by the heavens and by God. In the early 1600's at the time the play was written religion played a huge part in the way in which people carried out their lives. And to commit such a crime would have severe repercussions with the community and even damming Macbeth from going to heaven. And if you didn't go to heaven then you would go to hell. Even the word hell used to frighten people in the 1600's so if you were condemned to hell that would be the worst possible outcome imaginable. However Macbeth does know what is right but sometimes he doesn’t always do the right thing. In essence this shows that Macbeth is only human. So religion is another technique Shakespeare uses to show the good side of Macbeth.

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However earlier In Act 1 Scene 4 Macbeth discovers that Malcolm has been made The Prince of Cumberland which means he is heir to the thrown. Macbeth shows his bad side by stepping {Aside} and saying The prince of Cumberland that is a step on which I must fall down, or else o'erleap here Macbeth reveals his inner anguish towards the prince of Cumberland. Macbeth states that he must fall down and give in to the fact that Malcolm has been made heir to the throne or he must over leap him which means he will destroy him. This ...

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