Examples of Apostrophes in Macbeth

In this essay, we will explore some of the notable examples of apostrophes in Macbeth and analyze their significance in the context of the play.

Definition of Apostrophes

Before delving into specific examples from Macbeth, it is important to first understand what apostrophes are. In the context of literature, an apostrophe is a figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an absent or imaginary person, or a personified abstraction, such as love, death, or fate. Apostrophes are often used to convey intense emotion, passion, or urgency.

Examples of Apostrophes in Macbeth

One of the most famous examples of apostrophes in Macbeth is found in Lady Macbeth's soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 5. In this soliloquy, Lady Macbeth implores the spirits to "unsex" her and fill her with cruelty so that she can carry out her plan to murder King Duncan. She addresses the spirits with fervent emotion, using apostrophes to convey her desperation and determination:

"Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood,
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers,

Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
To cry 'Hold, hold!'

In this passage, Lady Macbeth's use of apostrophes serves to intensify her plea to the spirits, as she implores them to strip away her femininity and fill her with cruelty. The apostrophes create a sense of urgency and desperation, highlighting Lady Macbeth's single-minded determination to achieve her goal.

Another notable example of apostrophes in Macbeth is found in Macbeth's soliloquy in Act 5, Scene 5. In this soliloquy, Macbeth reflects on the futility of life and the inevitability of death, addressing the concept of time itself with a sense of resignation and despair:

"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."

In this passage, Macbeth's use of apostrophes to address time and life itself conveys a sense of resignation and hopelessness. The repetitive use of "tomorrow" emphasizes the relentless passage of time and the futility of human existence, while the apostrophes create a sense of detachment and disillusionment.

Significance of Apostrophes in Macbeth

The use of apostrophes in Macbeth serves to heighten the emotional intensity and dramatic power of the play. Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth use apostrophes to address abstract concepts such as fate, time, and the supernatural, conveying their inner turmoil and existential angst. The use of apostrophes also underscores the characters' sense of isolation and alienation, as they grapple with their own inner demons and the consequences of their actions.

Additionally, the use of apostrophes in Macbeth reflects the broader themes of fate, ambition, and the corrupting influence of power. The characters' desperate pleas to the spirits and their resigned reflections on the passage of time underscore the play's exploration of the human psyche and the destructive nature of unchecked ambition.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the use of apostrophes in Macbeth serves as a powerful literary device that enhances the emotional depth and dramatic impact of the play. Lady Macbeth's fervent plea to the spirits and Macbeth's resigned reflection on the passage of time are just two examples of how apostrophes are used to convey intense emotion, existential angst, and the characters' inner turmoil. Through the use of apostrophes, Shakespeare masterfully captures the psychological complexity of his characters and the timeless themes of ambition, fate, and the human condition.