Practice Paragraph

The morning after King Duncan’s murder, Lennox tells Macbeth how chaotic the night has been. When Shakespeare has Lennox say, “the night has been unruly. Where we lay, Our chimneys were blown down … Some say the Earth Was feverous and did shake” he is using pathetic fallacy to get his point across to the audience. Shakespeare is giving human emotions to intimate objects, or in this case the weather. This represents the effects Duncans murder has on the world around them and how that has now thrown the natural order into chaos. During the time period this play was written it was said that God appointed the kings to represent their country. This recent event has troubled the earth and the higher forces in power. By causing a disorder on earth after the ‘appointed’ king has been killed signifies that Macbeth was never meant to be king and has taken the title without being chosen in a malicious and reckless way. After the murder, it also is seen that the natural world has been changed after Ross says “By th’ clock ’tis day, And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp. Is ’t night’s predominance or the day’s shame That darkness does the face of Earth entomb.” This once again emphasises the unnatural killing of Duncan. The day stays dark and there is no light to be seen. The sun which would light up the morning has been smothered by darkness, signifying that not even the brightest star can shine after such an awful deed has been committed. Shakespeare is showing the audience the effects of such a brutal act using pathetic fallacy.