ery affable, he basically trusts everyone and this is why this quote represents he theme of appearance versus reality. To Duncan it seems that Macbeth is just another one of his ‘noble’ servants and therefore he trusts him, but in reality Macbeth is corrupt and superficial. Macbeth is not what he appears to be. Furthermore, Shakespeare use of paradox is shown when Lady Macbeth says:That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold,What hath quench’d them hath given me fire. ( , , 13-14)By saying this quote it shows the audience/reader that she is mentally deficient and that she has to drink to make herself valiant and therefore hide from her guilty conscious. This illustrates how ambitious she is. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are ready to do anything so that Macbeth can become King; this includes murdering the King and any others who come in their way. Overall the literary technique of paradox develops the characters and themes in the play.Similarly to paradox, Shakespeare’s use of imagery assists in the development of characters and themes in the play. For instance when Macbeth says, “Upon my head they plac’d a fruitless crown.” ( , ,61) This example of clothing imagery puts a vivid picture in the reader/audience’s mind. It shows that Macbeth is upset and envious of Banquo because he has kids and Macbeth does not. He is also upset because the witches promised Banquo that his kids would be kings while Macbeth’s would be the only king in his family. This develops the theme of ambition because Macbeth is jealous of Banquo. It also shows that Macbeth does not always get what he wants. Another example is of animal imagery which is said by Macbeth to Lady Macbeth is, “O full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife; thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives” (, , 37-38) This is a great example of animal imagery because scorpions are poisonous and the...
