Question

which is an example of irony in Macbeth?

A. Macbeth is unable to say "amen" after he hears King Duncan's guards praying in their sleep.
B. Lady Macbeth returns the bloody dagger to King Duncan's room after Macbeth is too upset to do it himself.
C. The three witches make the prediction that Macbeth will someday be both thane of Cawdor and king.
D. King Duncan thinks Macbeth is a good and virtuous man, when in reality, Macbeth is plotting his murder.

Answer 1

Another example of dramatic irony with King Duncan is when he expresses trust for Macbeth in act one, scene four, having no idea that Macbeth is going to kill him. This same scenario elicits dramatic irony from the character of Lady Macbeth when, two scenes later, she affects a genteel and formalized language in welcoming the king, after the audience has just heard her ruthlessly plotting his death with Macbeth in the scene prior.
In this way, Shakespeare throws his characters' flaws into sharper relief. The errors the characters make along the way stand out all the more when the audience is aware of their impending doom. Knowing what is coming when the characters do not creates feelings of suspense, sympathy, fear, disbelief or even anger in the audience. This heightens the emotional experience of the play and creates dramatic irony.

Answer 2

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