The theme of “physical” nature is represented by planting, growth, and trees. In Act 1, Scene 4, Duncan says to Macbeth, “I have begun to plant thee, and will labour To make thee full of growing”. Another example comes from Act 1, Scene 3, when Banquo says to Macbeth, “If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow and which will not…”. Trees represent another form of nature which is apparent in my passage from Act 5, Scene 5, when Macbeth is talking to his messenger, “‘Fear not, till Birnam Wood Do come to Dunsinane:’ and now a wood Comes toward Dunsinane”. Similar words are spoken in Act 4, Scene1, when the child-like apparition, carrying a tree, confronts Macbeth.
The figurative aspects of nature can also be seen throughout the play, particularly in the words of Macbeth. In Act 2, Scene 3, Duncan’s wounds are described as, “…gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature…”. This line not only refers to literal wounds, but in a greater sense refers to the wound caused by Macbeth when he killed his benefactor. Another example is in Act 2, Scene 4, when Ross is speaking to an old man, “…by the clock, 'tis day, And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp…”. To this the old man replies, “'Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that's done”. In my passage, Macbeth wishes the end of the world, but foreshadows the end of his world.The return to order is demonstrated in the final scene when Malcolm says, “What's more to do, Which would be planted newly with the time…”. This line continues the metaphor of planting and growth.
My passage is written in iambic pentameter. It begins with a half-line and ends with a rhyming couplet. There are multiple uses of figurative language within my passage. Metonymies are present throughout the play. In my passage, where Macbeth says, “I ’gin to be aweary of the sun…”, he is saying that he doesn’t want to see the next day. By using the sun as a reference to the entire day Shakespeare uses metonymy. Another metonymy is in Act 1, Scene 5, “…bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue…”. The use of alliteration is also present within my passage, “Blow wind, come wrack…”, “…speech be sooth…”, “…me as much…”, and “Arm, arm, and out…”. An example of personification in my passage, “…hang alive, Till famine cling thee”, is famine which to the best of my knowledge cannot cling. Apostrophe is when one speaks to something or someone that is unable to respond, such as in my passage when Macbeth says, “Blow, wind! come, wrack!”. Another example is in Act 2, Scene 1, when Macbeth exclaims, “Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell…”. Duncan is not present to respond.. In my passage there are two paradoxes, “…lies like truth”, and “There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here”. A famous paradox, in this play occurs in Act 1, Scene 1, when the witches say, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair…”. The play Macbeth is full of ironies, because one irony spawns another. In my passage, “And wish th’ estate o' th’ world were now undone”, is a dramatic irony because Macbeth is wishing for the destruction of order on earth, yet he is unaware of his own imminent demise.