Could this be considered an oxymoron in Macbeth?
"Yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him”
TIA.
Not sure.
http://www.answers.com/oxymoron
What do you think?
Yes, the quote "Yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him" can be considered an example of an oxymoron in Macbeth. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms appear side by side and create a meaning that is contradictory or paradoxical.
To understand if this quote is indeed an oxymoron, let's break it down. The phrase "the old man" refers to King Duncan, who was murdered by Macbeth. The phrase "so much blood" implies that King Duncan had a significant amount of blood, which is expected in a literal sense. However, in the context of the quote, it also carries a metaphorical meaning, referring to the guilt and the monstrous act of murder committed by Macbeth.
Therefore, the oxymoron lies in the contrast between the innocence associated with an old man and the guilt conveyed through the presence of excessive blood. This ironic contradiction creates a complex and paradoxical image, ultimately demonstrating the theme of appearance versus reality in Macbeth.