Macbeth Group

Question:

beatmixaah
beatmixaah
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What is the dramatic significance/terminology of Act 3, scene 1 in Macbeth?

Examples are: foreshadowing, dramatic irony, etc.

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Posted by beatmixaah on Monday March 9, 2009 at 2:43 PM and tagged with act 3 scene 1, foreshadowing, irony, literary devices, literary terms, macbeth.

Answers:


  1. troutmiller Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Dramatic irony is when the reader/audience knows something that the actor/character does not.  At this point in time, we know that Macbeth is behind the death of King Duncan.  Banquo at this point assumes the same thing. 

    "Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
    As the weird women promised, and, I fear,
    Thou play'dst most foully for't"

    However, it is too late since Macbeth is planning on having him killed. We know this, but Banquo doesn't realize yet how evil Macbeth truly is. Macbeth asks many questions trying to find what Banquo's route will be.

    "Ride you this afternoon?"

    "Is't far you ride?"

    When Macbeth tells him "Fail not our feast," Banquo replies that he won't miss it.  That could be considered foreshadowing since Banquo does appear, but he appears as a ghost.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/act-iii-summary-analysis

    Rate answer:

    Posted by troutmiller on Tuesday March 10, 2009 at 6:34 PM