ENGLIT MACBETH violence quotes

Question 1

How is Macbeth’s violence in I.2 ironic?

Answer 1

“fixed his head upon our battlements”

• foreshadows his own death at end of play
• starting and ending play with beheading provides a cyclical structure which suggests that events of Macbeth could be repeated and that men will always choose to be violent

Question 2

How is the violent world shown in I.2?

Answer 2

“go pronounce his present death”

• blank and dismissive way that it is said shows how violent and without sympathy this world is
• creates further tension added to previous element of the supernatural that was shown earlier