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The Use Of Irony In

“Macbeth” Essay, Research Paper


There are many types of irony used in Macbeth. Without the irony, the tragedy


would not be quite so tragic.


One type of irony used in Macbeth is verbal irony. This is when a character says


one thing and means the opposite. Examples of this are when Macbeth says to Banquo,


?Tonight we hold a solemn supper, sir, And I?ll request your presence (III, i, 13-14)? or


when he says ?Fail not our feast (III, i, 28).? Verbal irony makes the play more tragic


because, if the reader understands the irony of what a character is saying, then the reader


can see the true nature and intentions of the character.


Another type of irony Shakespeare used is the irony of a situation. This is when


the results of an action or event are different than what is expected. One example is when


Macduff is speaking with Malcolm about the tragedies in Scotland, not knowing that his


family has been murdered. He says:


?Let us rather


Hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men


Bestride our down-fall?n birthdom. Each new morn


New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows


Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds


As if it felt with Scotland and yelled out


Like syllable of dolor (IV, iii, 4-7).?


Macduff, ironically, is remarking on new widows howling, not aware of the fact


that he is a widower. This presents a great deal of irony to the reader, as well as a tragic


situation.

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Dramatic irony is also used in Macbeth. This type of irony is when there is a


contradiction between what characters of the play do, and what the reader knows will


happen. In Macbeth, an example is the pleasantry with which Duncan, the King, speaks of


Inverness. This pleasantry is a facade, because little does Duncan know, but the plot to


murder him is being hatched and will be carried out here at Inverness. How ironic for the


reader, and how tragic, to hear Duncan say:


?This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air


Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself


Unto our gentle senses. (I, iv, 1-3).?


Finally, irony of Fate is used. This is when a result defeats the purpose of an


event. For example, because of Macbeth?s reaction to seeing Banquo?s ghost in Act III


scene iv is so dramatic and violent, he casts suspicion onto himself, instead of gaining


personal security. He casts suspicion by asking ?which of you have done this?? and then


answering his own question with ?Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake Thy gory


locks at me (III, iv, 49, 51-52).? This is tragic, for Macbeth ruins his goal of security and


ends up casting more doubt upon himself.


A play that is tragic would not be so without irony. Irony pulls at the strings of the


reader?s heart. Whether the irony makes the tragic hero seem more villainous, or makes


their downfall seem more tragic, it certainly helps the tragedy have a less clear cut


emotional response.
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