Dramatic irony used in the play: MacBeth

More examples of dramatic irony in MacBeth

Dramatic irony used in the play: MacBeth

One example of dramatic irony could be the case of Lady Macbeth's 'illness'. While the characters in the scene (ie. The doctor and the nurse) initially cannot figure out the true meaning behind her seemingly entranced rituals (excessive hand washing, for example), we as the audience understand that it's because she is trying to wash her hands clean of King Duncan's blood.

Use of dramatic irony in other works of Shakespeare

As I said before, dramatic irony was a technique widely used by Shakespeare in his other works. Another fantastic example of William Shakespeare using dramatic irony is in Romeo and Juliet: Romeo knows he's listening to Juliet's declaration of love for him, and we know he's in the bushes under her balcony, but she does not know this.

DRAMATIC IRONY IN SHAKESPEARE'S "MACBETH"

What does dramatic irony actually mean?

Dramatic irony is when the words and actions of the characters of a work of literature have a different meaning for the reader than they do for the characters. This is the result of the reader having a greater knowledge than the characters themselves. Dramatic irony is a technique widely seen throughout the works of Shakespeare.

Uses of dramatic irony in MacBeth

I think that a good example of dramatic irony in Macbeth is when King Duncan comes to the castle of the Macbeths for a visit to celebrate Macbeth's elevation to Thane of Cawdor and the audience knows that the king is going to be murdered, but the king has no idea.

The king does not know that he has walked into a trap. The Macbeths have a lovely party, Lady Macbeth especially, pays respect to the king, honors the king and celebrates with him. She tells her husband that they must not reveal from their facial expressions or their demeanor any of their plans for later that night. She tells him:

"This castle hath a comfortable seat" (King Duncan)

Even more uses of dramatic irony

There is even more dramatic irony use in the play. This final use of dramatic irony (that I've read up to) is when Ross tells MacDuff that his wife and kids have been slain. We know that they're dead but this scene still happens

"How does my wife?" (MacDuff)

"Why, well" (Ross)

"And all my children" (MacDuff)

"Well too" (Ross)

"The tyrant [MacBeth] has not battered their peace?" (MacDuff)

"No, they're all at peace" (Ross)

(Act IV, Scene III)