Dramatic Irony

Part 2: Tragedy & Circumstance
Part 3: Our Brief Candle

Irony, which simply means a twist of fate, was a favorite literary technique of Shakespeare’s, especially in his tragedies. In Macbeth, especially, dramatic irony is integral to the development of the complicated plot. From the very first scene, dramatic irony creates a gripping, suspenseful mood and helps the audience to understand later developments in the plot.

While the definition of irony is simple, there are three sub-varieties of irony, each of which accomplishes different purposes in literature. The primary kind of irony used in Macbeth is dramatic irony, a situation in which the audience knows something that the characters in the play do not. The other varieties of irony – verbal and situational – appear in Shakespeare often as well. Dramatic irony can actually be used in very humorous contexts, but in Macbeth, it contributes greatly to the drama of the story. It is useful for two primary reasons, creating mood and informing the audience.

In Macbeth, events in the first and second scenes combine to create a sense of dramatic irony from the beginning. In Scene 1, the three witches gather and discuss their upcoming meeting with Macbeth.

<>First Witch: ‘When shall we meet again,
In Thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Where the place?’
Second Witch: ‘Upon the heath.’
Third Witch: ‘There to meet with Macbeth.’
All: ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair
Hover through the fog and filthy air.’

In the very opening of the play, Shakespeare establishes that Macbeth will meet the three witches in the future, which gives the audience a negative idea of his character before he even enters the story.

In Scene 2, the soldiers and nobles discuss Macbeth’s character and valor, creating an entirely different impression than that made by the witches. They clearly believe Macbeth is completely brave and honorable.

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<>King Duncan: O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!
Sergeant: I must report they (Macbeth and Banquo, another soldier) were as cannons overcharged with double cracks, so they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.

These two scenes reveal two things to the audience. First, that Macbeth is or is shortly to be involved in something sinister, and second, that none of Macbeth’s friends suspect he is anything other than what he appears to be. Thus, the audience already knows something that the other characters do not.

The dramatic irony of these short scenes accomplishes its task of creating suspense by presenting differing conceptions of Macbeth’s character. It also prepares the audience for Macbeth’s treachery and greed later in the play. Shakespeare continues to employ dramatic irony throughout the play, which causes suspense to build until it reaches its climax when Macbeth’s true character is revealed. Without this literary technique, the play would be far less powerful and far more confusing, but with it, Macbeth is one of the greatest tragedies ever written.