Besides, this Duncan / Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been / So clear in his great office, that his virtues / Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against / The deep damnation of his taking-off;
Act I, Scene 7 · Macbeth
Context
Macbeth lists reasons not to kill Duncan, acknowledging that the king has ruled virtuously and that his murder will provoke moral outrage.
Analysis
The simile 'like angels, trumpet-tongued' gives Duncan's virtues a voice louder than any human speech, turning abstract goodness into a force that will actively 'plead' against Macbeth. The phrase 'trumpet-tongued' is not just loud but apocalyptic—it recalls the Last Judgment, positioning Duncan's murder as a crime that heaven itself will prosecute.
Essay Tip
Support a thesis that Macbeth sees Duncan's innocence as a tangible obstacle, not a moral abstraction—the virtues aren't passive qualities but active agents that will 'plead' and expose him, making the murder harder to conceal than to commit.