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The motif of the birds in William Shakespeare's THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH illlustrates the nature of several characters. Shakespeare mentions several birds in the play but three birds are especially symbolic. The raven is the first bird mentioned ....

Middle of Term Paper
... appropriate bird for Lady Macbeth to mention. It is not a bird of spring, nor does it have a beautiful song. It is an omen of death and evil. Ravens are frequent fixtures in gothic literature. The owl is discussed by the old man who talks to Ross the day after Duncan was killed. The death of Duncan is a perverted act, just as the death of the falcon is considered unnatural. "'Tis unatural/Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last a falcon, towering in her pride of place,/was by amousing owl hawked at and killed." The owl is a bird that typically symbolizes wisdom but in this case the mousing owl has killed a larger predator--a ...