Question

What figurative language / literary devices are in the following quote from Macbeth by Shakespeare? What is the meaning of this quote?
“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 th’ access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between Th’ 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!’” (I.v.47-61).

Answer 1

Answer:

This quote is an example of personification. Having just witnessed an important part of the witches ' prophecy being fulfilled when he was named Thane of Cawdor, he believes that the rest may be soon be within his grasp. He is overcome by ambition and a desire for the...

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer:

...

Explanation:

• use of imperative verbs "come", "fill", "make", "stop" etc.
• crown- link to later Macbeth mentioning "fruitless crown" representing having no children of his own
• imagery of blood
• "nature" is used- linked to how things are not in its natural order/place
• "milk"- purity, maternal imagery (Lady Macbeth is not maternal this is shown by how she wants to get rid of anything pure and swap it for poison)
• "murd'ring ministers" plosive of 'm' like hunger showing Lady Macbeth's greed