Pathetic Fallacy Examples In Macbeth Essay

Individuals are commonly told to dress according to the weather. The significance of weather’s role in one's life is similar to weather's importance in literature. Authors frequently use pathetic fallacy to contribute or emphasize a certain aspect or theme. William Shakespeare's Macbeth highly incorporates pathetic fallacy. Shakespeare's use of pathetic fallacy contributes to the tragic plot of Macbeth as it foreshadows important events, mirrors society and develops the mood.

Shakespeare aids readers in foreshadowing major events in Macbeth through incorporating pathetic fallacy. Majority of foreshadowing with pathetic fallacy occurs in the presence of minor characters. The witches, in particular, serve a great purpose in predetermining the fates of individuals due to their constant association with nature. For instance, nature's reactions in response to the witches,

predicts Macbeth's fall. At the commencement of the play, the witches state, “Fair is foul and foul is fair / Hover through the fog and filthy air”(1.1.11-12). The witches contrast fair and foul amidst the fog, aiding in depicting Macbeth's character over the course of the play. The statement foreshadows the fall of Macbeth's noble character to evil, thus contributing to his identity as a tragic hero and affecting the plot of the play. Likewise, Macbeth's statement, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen” foreshadows Banquo's unfortunate death (1.3.38). Similar to the witches statement, Macbeth's realization of the foul weather also refers to Macbeth's downfall. Macbeth's downfall will affect those around him and in particular, Banquo and his death. Correspondingly, nature prognosticates Scotland's ruin. The first lines of the witches, “When shall we meet again? / In thunder, lightning or rain?” describes the conditions of Scotland when the witches will appear again, which is ironically after Macbeth inherits the throne (1.1.1-2). Those of the Elizabethan era often thought of nature as a reflection of the Great Chain of Being. Therefore, the witches description of chaos in the atmosphere foreshadows the chaos within Scotland's society during the rule of Macbeth. Nature’s foreshadowing of unfortunate events enhances the disastrous story.
While also foreshadowing the descent of Scotland, nature begins to mirror the Scottish society. Nature aids in portraying the disruption within Scotland. During the reign of Duncan, nature is calm and serene. While the hierarchy is in order, “The air / Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself” (1.6.1-2). The personification of the air being kind and welcoming reflects the order in society. Suddenly, the natural world immediately worsens after Duncan's murder. Lady Macbeth recalls hearing, “the owl scream and the crickets cry” (2.2.16). The owl's and the crickets' unnatural actions reflect Duncan's murder, a disturbance in the Great Chain of Being. After Duncan's death is known to all of Scotland, nature's chaos becomes fully evident. Ross and the old man's conversation reveals the full extent of nature's chaos. Ross remembers Duncan's horses becoming, “ wild in nature” (2.4.16). Like the owls and the crickets, Duncan's horses which were well trained defy their natural order and symbolize the chaos in Scotland. Nature also reflects the cruel overtaking of the throne by Macbeth. The old man recalls, “ a falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place / Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed” (2.4.12-13). The owl refers to Macbeth and how his actions are the cause for the disruption in society much like the owl oddly overtaking the hawk. Nature’s reflection of Scotland's disastrous fate further intensifies the tragic events.
Similar to Scotland's descent,Shakespeare's creation of the mood by pathetic fallacy adds to the evidently tragic plot of Macbeth.

Throughout the play the mood is eerie and gloomy. At the commencement of the play, the mood is set up by Shakespeare's stage directions of thunder during the entrance of the witches. The recurring event of thunder along with the witches constantly brings upon a sense of gloom. The eeriness increases as the plot progresses. According to Macbeth, “Nature seems dead” (2.1.51). At this point in the play the story begins to worsen as Macbeth contemplates murdering Duncan. Nature’s personification of being dead along with the context of the scene emphasizes the dreariness in the atmosphere. The dark mood becomes increasingly clear when the entirety of Scotland is now upside down. Ross claims, “that darkness does the face of earth entomb” (2.4.9). The darkness which engulfs the world further contributes to the eerie atmosphere, contrasting it to the state of Scotland before Duncan's murder. Nature's contribution to the gloomy mood emphasizes Macbeth’s unfortunate story

line.
Shakespeare's Macbeth demonstrates nature's critical role in literature. Macbeth's devastating story is apparent through Shakespeare's inclusion of pathetic fallacy which foreshadows, reflects the Great Chain of Being and develops the mood. A significant amount of stories which exist today incorporate nature within the plot. Without pathetic fallacy, the majority of literature, such as Macbeth, would not be able to express its story. Through the analysis of Macbeth, one can conclude that a story without nature would be as bland as life without weather.