Question

What's ironic about King Duncan mentioning what a pleasant and soothing atmosphere?

Answer 1

Answer:

As King Duncan and Banquo arrive at Macbeth's castle in act 1, scene 6, both men comment on its welcoming, pleasant atmosphere. Duncan mentions that the air is sweet and appeals to the gentle senses while Banquo comments on how the birds are attracted to the lovely atmosphere surrounding the castle walls. Banquo uses positive words like "loved," "heaven," and "delicate" to describe Inverness. Ironically, King Duncan and Banquo are entering a dangerous, threatening place, where the king will be brutally assassinated by Macbeth. Immediately after Macbeth commits regicide, the porter pretends that Inverness is hell, which is much more accurate than the king's initial perception of the castle. The fact that Duncan and Banquo naively believe that Inverness is a welcoming, pleasant place when it is the exact opposite, coincides with the motif that appearances be deceiving.