Macbeth Group

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eagertolearn
eagertolearn
Student
High School - 9th Grade

What is the irony in the Captain's speech in Act I Sc.2, lines 8-23 of "Macbeth?"

 

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Posted by eagertolearn on Saturday April 25, 2009 at 11:37 PM and tagged with captain, irony, macbeth, speech.

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  1. lit24
    lit24 Teacher
    Doctorate

    eNotes Editor

    In Act I Sc.2, we have a badly wounded captain of King Duncan's army reporting to the King and his associates how Macbeth fought and killed the traitor Macdonwald.

    The irony lies in the very first word which the captain utters: "DOUBTFUL."

    This word 'doubtful' is pregnant with irony for the following reasons:

    1. To begin with, it wasn't clear who would win Macbeth or Macdonwald and initially it looked as though the rebel Macdonwald might get the better of Macbeth. It is ironical that 'fortune' should favour the evil and wicked Macdonwald. 'Fortune' thus falsely appeared to be the 'rebel's whore.'

    2. The captain describes Macdonwald as "worthy to be a rebel." The irony being, he compliments him on his ability to attract other rebel followers from Ireland and the Hebrides. 'Rebellion' which is a negative quality is treated as a positive virtue by the captain and thus its negative quality is emphasised.

    3. This ironical status of 'fortune' is highlighted when the valourous Macbeth despises the virtuous quality 'fortune' which has temporarily become a 'rebel's whore' and rips apart the enemy of the state Macdonwald.

    The objective correlative  'doubtful' is thus loaded with 'prophetic irony' and foreshadows Macbeth's own rebellion and regicide when the 'fair' Macbeth  will become the 'foul' Macbeth.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/character-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/criticism
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/essays

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    Posted by lit24 on Sunday April 26, 2009 at 2:32 AM