Question

Read the passage.

excerpt from Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Duncan: Dismay'd not this

Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?

Sergeant: Yes;
    As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.
    If I say sooth, I must report they were
    As cannons overcharged with double cracks, so they
    Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe:
    Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds,
    Or memorise another Golgotha,
    I cannot tell.
    But I am faint, my gashes cry for help.

Duncan: 

So well thy words become thee as thy wounds;
    They smack of honour both. Go get him surgeons.

How does Shakespeare's use of figurative language in this excerpt affect the play?

The Sergeant's use of personification when he states that his "gashes cry for help" reinforces the idea that the battle he witnessed was brutally violent and dangerous.The Sergeant's

Answer 1

Shakespeare uses figurative language in 'Macbeth' to vividly depict the brutality of battle and to convey the characters' intense experiences and emotions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Shakespeare's use of figurative language in Macbeth enhances the play by vividly depicting the brutality of battle and the depth of emotion in the characters. The Sergeant's comparison of the soldiers to "as cannons overcharged with double cracks" and the notion of a battlefield as "another Golgotha" emphasize the extraordinary violence and the sacrifice made by the warriors.

This language paints a gruesome picture for the audience and sets the tone for the dangerous and treacherous world of the play. Furthermore, the personification of the Sergeant's wounds, as they "cried for help," serves to underscore the suffering endured by the characters and the grim reality of their situation.

Answer 2

Shakespeare’s use of figurative language within this excerpt affects the play by inserting a bit of humor—sort of a comic relief—into this play, which is a tragedy. This can be seen with the line “As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.” This can be seen as humorous because of how Sergeant is basically telling Duncan that they should be no more worried by things afoot no more than a little sparrow would worry an eagle or a rabbit would worry a lion.