Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
Motifs Of Birds In Macbeth - Paper

Motifs Of Birds In Macbeth


The motif of the birds in William Shakespeare's THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH illlustrates the nature of several characters. Shakespeare mentions several birds in the play but three birds are especially symbolic.
The raven is the first bird mentioned in the play. Lady Macbeth says that the raven welcomes the good king Duncan into her home. "The raven himself is hoarse/That croaks the fatal entance of Duncan/Under my battlements. Come you spirits/ that tend on motal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe,top-full/Of direst cruelty!" The raven is a black scavenger.This is a perfect symbol for the black evil of over-ambition that has overtaken both of the Macbeths. Lady ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

death of the falcon is considered unnatural. "'Tis unatural/Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last a falcon, towering in her pride of place,/was by amousing owl hawked at and killed." The owl is a bird that typically symbolizes wisdom but in this case the mousing owl has killed a larger predator--a falcon. The mousing owl has usurped it's natural place in the order of the animal kingdom, just as Macbeth has killed Duncan. The old man, who we assume is wise is discussing these strange events.
Lady Macduff mentions the wren. She complains that her husband doesn't have as much loyalty as the bird, because he has left his family to fend for themselves. She calls the wren a small, diminutive creature who will fight to save her young. "For the poor wren,/The most diminutive of birds) will fight/Her young ones in her nest, against the owl." It is ironic that Lady Macduff will soon be in this same position. She unsuccessfully fights to save herself and her children. The ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.


Already a member? Login


CITE THIS PAGE:

Motifs Of Birds In Macbeth. (2007, July 25). Retrieved March 29, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Motifs-Of-Birds-In-Macbeth/68562
"Motifs Of Birds In Macbeth." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 25 Jul. 2007. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Motifs-Of-Birds-In-Macbeth/68562>
"Motifs Of Birds In Macbeth." Essayworld.com. July 25, 2007. Accessed March 29, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Motifs-Of-Birds-In-Macbeth/68562.
"Motifs Of Birds In Macbeth." Essayworld.com. July 25, 2007. Accessed March 29, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Motifs-Of-Birds-In-Macbeth/68562.
JOIN NOW
Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays


PAPER DETAILS
Added: 7/25/2007 04:17:04 PM
Category: Arts
Type: Free Paper
Words: 469
Pages: 2

Save | Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS
Save and find your favorite essays easier

SIMILAR ESSAYS
» Huckleberry Finn And Holden Cau...
» Kmart Corporation
» Similarities And Differences In...
» Shirley Temple: Black Hollywood...
» Fast Food
» Socrates
» Why Al Gore For United States P...
» Frankenstein: The Forbidden Fru...
» Recognizing Laboratory Safety
» Wuthering Heights-storm And Ca
Copyright | Cancel | Contact Us

Copyright © 2024 Essayworld. All rights reserved