How Does Shakespeare Use Dramatic Irony In Macbeth

Macbeth is a very interesting play with lots of twists and turns throughout the plot. Shakespeare uses many literary devices to convey his story and messages while adding more details to the play. In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony throughout the play to convey what happens to Macbeth and his wife's mental state, which then reveals the theme that things are not always what they seem. In the murder of Duncan, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony in the foreshadowing, and then again in the aftermath describing the mental state of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Dramatic irony shows the audience insight on events that may later occur. The use of irony in the murder of Duncan is very important. ¨This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air / Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself / Unto our gentle senses¨ (Mac.1.7.1-3). One can find dramatic irony in this because King Duncan describes Inverness, Macbeth's Castle, as pleasant and wonderful. Whereas the audience knows that Macbeth has planned the murder of Duncan to take place here. ¨O, never / Shall sun that morrow see!¨ (Mac.1.6.58-59). This quote backs up the dramatic irony because it is the action that his face will never see the sun again is providing the irony in his remarks. The use of this dramatic irony describing Inverness leads to the death of Duncan which causes Macbeth and

¨Sweet remembrancer¨ (Mac.3.4.38). In this quote Macbeth says that he has a nice reminder of his friend Banquo, whom he just killed. The dramatic irony happens in two situations. The first one is that the banquet he speaks too does not know of Banquo's death and that Macbeth was the one who had him killed. The second situation is how the reminder is sweet, yet when Macbeth will see the ghost of Banquo he will be terrified. ¨If I stand here, I saw him¨”(Mac.3.4.73). This quote then backs up the irony because the reminder of Banquo in his seat terrifies him and is not