Macbeth Commentary
            
             In Macbeth's speech about the witches telling him their prophecies, central and
             dramatic purpose are given in more than one way. Macbeth's aside is mainly an inward
             conflict in a case of man versus himself. Many times in the passage, Macbeth relays signs
             of fear but with reward near by. Contained in Macbeth's aside are very important
             elements of dramatic purpose as well as a central purpose that foreshadows the underlying
             theme of the whole play.
             Central purpose is achieved through Macbeth's arguments with himself and the
             tone he conveys. He asks himself questions, attempting to work them out in his head,
             giving the reader a short psychoanalysis of what he is thinking and why. The central
             purpose in the passage is that of ultimate betrayal. The witches have given him prophecies
             that he will become Thane of Cawdor and later the King of Scotland and one thinks that
             will please Macbeth but in actuality it wreaks havoc with his emotions and feelings. "If
             good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make
             my seated heart knock at my ribs...?" is a question posed by Macbeth to himself. The use
             of such rhetoric lets the reader realize that there is inevitably something wrong with
             Macbeth becoming king and that something will have to go down before his success.
             Showing the reader that there is evil masked among the great success, gives off images of
             betrayal and also that nothing is ever as it seems.
             Dramatic purpose is shown in many ways throughout the passage. The main
             instrument used to advance the drama in the passage are the questions that Macbeth asks
             himself. The questions reveal that something is wrong and that Macbeth feels insecure
             about receiving these positions, showing how much evil is rustling beneath the glory. Also
             boosting the drama is Macbeth's repetition of words favoring darkness. "I...