A falcon, towering in her pride of place,
Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.
– William Shakespeare
Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 4. The Old Man says this to Ross, as they discuss the strange phenomena that occur as a result of Duncan’s murder. The natural order appears to be reversed, with the Old Man describing how a falcon and bird of prey is killed by an owl. The owl’s ability to soar and take down the high flying falcon is symbolic of the ambitious Macbeth rising up to disrupt the natural order and kill Duncan. In this passage we see an example of the play’s supernatural theme.