Symbolism in Macbeth: Dagger, Ghosts, and Threes

1183 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The importance of Macbeth

Throughout the play "Macbeth" there have been many symbols that have been proven to be significant throughout the play. Of the many I will discuss the importance of The number three, the dagger, and Banquo's ghost.They are all always lingering in the play but not expressed in literal terms. A symbol is using an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning These symbols role in "Macbeth" are to provide a greater meaning to the play. Shakespeare has been known for creating plays that are enjoyable to read, the language is not so difficult once you are familiar with it. The symbols in the play, are significant because they make it possible for readers to interpret to their understanding, and still understand the meaning of the play.These three symbols each have their own meanings that I will further discuss. Their purpose is to let readers stay interested, and to figure out what they represent. The first symbol I will discuss will be the the number three. The number three is used along the play. The play opens up with the Three Witches, wishing to speak to Macbeth. In Act 1, scene three they finally come in encounter with Macbeth and his kin Banquo.Upon meeting him they tell him his prophecy,Which is told is three parts. They say "First Witch: All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!,Second Witch: All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!, Third Witch :All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!"(I,iii,50-53). The first part just simply tells what he is right now, thane of Glamis. Then the second witch says hail thane of Cawdor. This is an example of dramatic irony because the readers already knew that he was Thane of Cawdor. As the reader, we have already found out that Macbeth wil... ... middle of paper ... ... filled with achievements, Macbeth blanked out.All he thought about was killing the king.When he tried to console his wife, she encouraged him to kill and take the power said to be his. Lady Macbeth called her husband a coward for not standing for what is his.She claims that he is not man enough. Lady Macbeth is commonly seen as being the reason that Macbeth changed his mind to actually kill Duncan. Macbeth changes from hero to villain to tyrant because of ambition.His determination gets out hand. In Act 4, Macbeth states that he will not listen to anyone anymore, but do whatever it is that his mind tells him to do. It is said after the apparitions have spoken to him, At this point Macbeth is heartless and has no emotions. He says "Unless the deed go with it; from this moment,The very firstlings of my heart shall be,The firstlings of my hand." (IV,i 161-165).

Show More
Related

  • Macbeth Dbq Analysis

    628 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lady Macbeth has a greater control on Macbeth’s actions than any other character in Macbeth apart from the Weïrd Sisters. She is well known for her persuading speeches to her husband, convincing him to fulfill the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth’s manly qualities, and informs him that only when he follows through with the murder that

    Read More

  • The Theme of Masculinity in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Lady Macbeth‚s eyes if Macbeth did not kill Duncan than he would not be a man to her anymore, she believes that he would be denying all urges for greater wealth and prosperity that man should have. She is wondering why he is not taking the opportunity to be king when he can easily do so, in reality, we know why Macbeth is contemplating the murder of Macbeth, because he has morals, qualities that we consider manly today.

    Read More

  • Macbeth - Manipulation

    945 Words  | 2 Pages

    Not much further in the play, we see that Macbeth decides not to murder Duncan but rather, carry on serving as his Thane. However, Lady Macbeth starts her persuasion again, but this time she questions his manhood, saying "When you durst do it, then you were a man: And to be more then what you were you would be so much more the man." (1.7.49-51). Had she not challenged his manhood and his love for her, he would not have usurped the throne and she would not have become a Queen. Not only did she get him to think about the murder, she even knew what to say after he had started thinking about the murder.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices In Macbeth

    480 Words  | 1 Pages

    The symbol here would be “greatness”, he uses it to express his feelings and know what is important to him, such as, Lady Macbeth and his prophecy. The recurring motif would also be “greatness” because he mentions it twice here about Lady Macbeth and his prophecy. Another would be “ambition”- which, “greatness”, leads to ambition- because Macbeth kills King Duncan and succeeds and becomes king. It touches on his matter for ambition by him saying “ thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee.” Ambition means “intention” and this says that he will not be ignorant of what chances he has to be come king. In other words, he’s going to do something about it. We can find out that Macbeth would kill king Duncan later on as he said “thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee.” He said he won’t be ignoring the chance of being king and he would do something about it , as later on, he kills king Duncan, not on his free will, but by Lady Macbeth questioning his manhood. We also find out that he is ambitious and a

    Read More

  • Lady Macbeth Is More Ruthless

    1149 Words  | 3 Pages

    After Lady Macbeth reads her husband’s letter, she sees an opportunity to become queen that she probably never thought about. Lady Macbeth’s desire for her husband to become king is stronger than Macbeth’s own desire for the throne. After Lady Macbeth learns that Duncan is going to visit Inverness, she begins plotting to kill him, even though her husband does show hesitation to kill Duncan. Macbeth wrote, “Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it” that he does not want to commit an act of murder.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Bullying In Macbeth

    409 Words  | 1 Pages

    Lady Macbeth was overall the biggest bully in the Macbeth play. She exerted control over her husband. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth made a plan to kill King Duncan following The Three Witches prophecy where they foretold he would be king. In Act 1 Scene 7 Macbeth decides not to King Duncan because he was “his kinsman and his subject” and because Duncan “Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been...So clear in his great office”. When Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he won’t kill King Duncan, she calls him a coward saying "When you durst do it, then you were a man". By calling him a coward and questioning his manliness she pushed him to murder King Duncan.

    Read More

  • Lady Macbeth Condemn Her Analysis

    790 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare utilises symbolism throughout the play to aid the reader gain a better standing on their view of Lady Macbeth. In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth's letter about the prophecies of the three witches. Her true feelings about the prophecies are expressed in these this initial soliloquy. In the first passage, she shows that she is strongly confident that these foreseen occurrences will come true. However, she doubts her husband's capability to help the promise of becoming king come true. She says, "Yet do I fear thy nature, it is too full o'th' milk of human kindness. To catch the nearest way..." Since Lady Macbeth doubts the capability of her husband achieving the goal on his own, she feels that she must prepare herself to assist him. The phrase where Lady Macbeth says,

    Read More

  • Consequences of Actions in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

    773 Words  | 2 Pages

    “When you first do it, then you were a man, And to be more than what you were, you would, be so much more the man” (I. VII, 54-56). After struggling with the thought of killing Duncan, Macbeth is reprimanded by Lady Macbeth for his lack of courage. She informs him that killing the king will make him a man, insinuating that he isn’t a man if he doesn’t go through with the murder. This develops Lady Macbeth as a merciless, nasty, and selfish woman. She will say, or do anything to get what she desires, even if it means harming others.

    Read More

  • Symbolism in Macbeth: Blood, Weather, Light and Darkness,

    1097 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many symbols used in Macbeth that help us to better understand the play. In the following paragraphs I will explain them in depth. There are four symbols that I will discuss below, they are light and darkness it represents the good and bad things that take place throughout the play. The second symbolism is blood. The blood represents murder and guilt like the blood on the dagger and the blood on Lady Macbeth's hand. The weather represents the different tragedies that take place and another symbolism is the dead children.

    Read More

  • Manipulation Of Lady Macbeth

    932 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the three witches had met with Macbeth, and then he had told his wife, he did not feel sure that murdering the King was right, although he was the King’s savior. When Lady Macbeth hears about the news, she awakens, starts to plot Duncan’s murder and backstabbs Macbeth to kill him. She tells him to ‘be a man and go get what he wants’. At this point, Macbeth doesn’t have a choice. When she thinks that she can kill the King, she cries, “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex

    Read More

  • Free Essays - The Manipulative Lady Macbeth

    399 Words  | 1 Pages

    When Macbeth was off at war, and told Lady Macbeth that the witches greeted him as Thane of Cawdor, and King of Scotland before he received those titles, she was probably scheming on how to fulfill those before he returned home. Once home, they had King Duncan stay at Dunsinane. Lady Macbeth then b-tches at her husband and ridicules his masculinity in order to make him commit murder (Friedlander). Macbeth reluctantly murders Duncan, even though he wanted to wait and have it all play out without killing anyone. When he went to the well to wash off his hands he speaks of his remorse, and lady Macbeth finds out that he did not implicate the guards, so she tells him to go do it.

    Read More

  • Symbolism In Macbeth

    1089 Words  | 3 Pages

    In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, symbolism plays a prominent role to emphasize the theme of corruption of power. Throughout the play there are several main symbols repeatedly used to emphasize this theme. The contrast of light and dark representing good and evil, blood representing guilt, murder, and pain, and the archetypal pattern of purification by using water represents removal of guilt, cleansing and peace. Symbolism is used repeatedly to emphasize the theme of corruption of power.

    Read More

  • Troubles Macbeth Faced

    591 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although Macbeth, hesitates at the beginning to kill King Duncan. His wife, Lady Macbeth, convinces him by saying,

    Read More

  • Macbeth Foreshadowing Essay

    691 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...liam Shakespeare: Macbeth, the three witches are used as prophets that convey Macbeth's future fate directly to him. Macbeth detects these prophecies not as absolute truths but as predictions that might come true depending on if he thinks they are good or not. For instance at the beginning when the witches declare that they will meet again with each other "When the battle's lost and won". Also when the three witches meet Macbeth and Banquo, they greet Macbeth as three titles. Finally, when The three witches appear to him again they provide three more prophecies that ring actual truth to what is going to happen. The use of these characters in foreshadowing adds to the "tragedy" of the tragedy. Macbeth was foreshadowed or prophesied to commit these acts and die and he knew some and still failed to see them. This adds to the brilliance of Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth.

    Read More

  • Broken Chain In Macbeth

    722 Words  | 2 Pages

    We chose to incorporate Macbeth’s growing fear towards kingship through the symbol of a baby with a crown. The baby with a crown represents the character that is Banquo’s son, Fleance. The crown on the baby’s head exemplifies the kingship that is truly his, not Macbeth’s. The comical part about this symbol is that Macbeth fears a young kid who is most likely a more mature ruler than Macbeth himself. That goes to show just how paranoid Macbeth has become since killing King Duncan. The third prophecy states that Banquo’s descendants will have kingship in the future, so Macbeth automatically assumes that Fleance is the one that is destined to be King. In that, Macbeth sets off to attempt to kill Banquo and Fleance in hopes of eliminating all chances of anyone else taking over the crown. Macbeth is successful in killing Banquo, but Fleance is able to escape the cruel murder. Fleance escaping engraves the third prophecy once and for all into Macbeth’s head, which accomplices in his growing insanity. We chose to display Macbeth’s shattered confidence through the symbol of a broken sword but it only has another meaning, it also displays Macbeth’s inability to fight Macduff. This symbol is also a representation of Macbeth being slain because a dead man does not need a sword since he can longer

    Read More

More about Symbolism in Macbeth: Dagger, Ghosts, and Threes

Open Document