Examine the ways in which Shakespeare uses language in Macbeth to create characters, atmosphere and horror.

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, we find
that the author masterfully uses the language to bring the audience into the world he
creates with words: specifically imagery. Among the other things Shakespeare's imagery
creates are the play's realistic characters, the atmosphere (or mood) and a sense of
horror.

Imagery is used early on as the Sergeant describes
the valiant way Macbeth (and Banquo) performs on the field of battle in the war between
Norway and Scotland. In this case, the descriptions present the admirable qualities
Macbeth displays before he decides to kill Duncan, the King. In this passage, Macbeth is
described as a man who is not worried for his safety, but "hacks" his way through the
battle raging around him until he comes face to face with Macdonwald, a Scottish
traitor. Without hesitation, he cuts him open and kills him, and then puts the corpse's
head on the castle's battlements.

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For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that
name—

Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd
steel,

Which smoked with bloody
execution,(20)

Like valor's minion carved out his
passage

Till he faced the
slave,

Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to
him,

Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the
chaps,

And fix'd his head upon our battlements.
(I.ii.18-25)

There are
several examples of setting the mood (or creating an atmosphere). One that I enjoy the
best is when the disruption of the order of the universe (because of Duncan's murder)
becomes obvious to the casual observer—these are signs that God is displeased that the
man he ordained to be King has been killed. Strange things begin to occur in nature.
First, Ross indicates the occurrence of an eclipse that now darkens the face of the
earth during the daytime. The Old Man talks about a role reversal where the prey becomes
the hunter:

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’Tis unnatural,

Even
like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last

A falcon
towering in her pride of place

Was by a mousing owl hawk'd
at and kill'd.
(II.iv.12-15)

Ross then
reports that the King's horses, generally gentle creatures, "make war on mankind," going
crazy, and the Old Man share a rumor he heard that Ross
confirms:

And
Duncan's horses—a thing most strange
and

certain—

Beauteous and
swift, the minions of their race,

Turn'd wild in nature,
broke their stalls, flung out,

Contending ’gainst
obedience, as they would make

War with
mankind.

OLD
MAN:

’Tis said they eat each
other.

ROSS:

They
did so, to the amazement of mine eyes

That look'd
upon't. (16-24)

These lines
show that the world has turned upside down. A strange and eerie mood is set first with
the unnatural darkness that rests over the land and then the unnatural
behavior not only of wild animals, but of the King's noble horses
that have eaten at each other.

Horror
is present when Macbeth returns to his bedroom, covered in blood, still holding the
murder weapons. His wife tries to calm his rattled nerves, telling him to wash up, and
then—seeing the daggers—to return the weapons to the King's rooms; Macbeth is horrified
and refuses:

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LADY
MACBETH:

...Why,
worthy Thane,

You do unbend your noble strength, to
think

So brainsickly of things. Go, get some
water

And wash this filthy witness from your
hand.

Why did you bring these daggers from the
place?

They must lie there. Go carry them, and
smear

The sleepy grooms with
blood.

MACBETH:

I'll
go no more:

I am afraid to think what I have
done;

Look on't again I dare not.
(II.ii.56-66)

Shakespeare
artfully uses language to make his play more realistic.