Symbolism in Macbeth
In the play Macbeth there are many literary techniques. The one that struck me the most would be symbolism. I feel like the play is evolved around symbolism, and it really makes a huge difference in the play Macbeth.
Somehow in the play it is always dark when a horrible event is going to happen.
In act 1, scene 5, and line 3 Lady Macbeth asks “thick night” to come with the “smoke of Hell” practically saying that don’t let the dagger see she is using it to make a wound in the king. The darkness compares to the dark act she is going at that point of time in the play. Another example in act 1, scene 5, and line 3 of how darkness plays a huge part in Macbeth is when Lady Macbeth calls for the murderous spirits to “Prevent heaven from peeping through the blanket of the dark to cry hold, hold!” She is saying light will give her protection from any bad thing and it’s the only thing that could stop her from killing Duncan.
Light and life are also big symbols in Macbeth because Lady Macbeth thinks that the light will protect her from evil but the evil always found her again. When Lady Macbeth starts going insane she always wants a candle of life with her in act 5, scene 1, and line 4. When Macbeth hears of Lady Macbeths suicide, he responds with “out, out brief candle” in act 5, scene 5, line 3. The flame of the candle was also an example of a metaphor for Lady Macbeths very short lived life she experienced filled with darkness for the last memories of her life. This also applies to Banquos torch is out the second he is killed by the murderers in act 3, scene 3, and line 1. One more example is the night King Duncan is killed by Macbeth, Lennox said that a fire in his chimney was “blown” out for no reason at all in a...
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...s it was said that an owl killed a falcon and that usually doesn’t happen so that right there shows that the natural order of how things are supposed to go in the world doesn’t during this time period because of Macbeths and Lady Macbeths actions for the last few months of their lives.
From blood, to daggers, to nature there are many symbols that represent deep, dark events that have happened in Macbeth. It gives it a very sinful attitude the whole duration of the play that makes you feel all the emotions that the characters must have felt. Having such strong symbols made this such an interesting play because the symbols always connected with each other, so everything is tied to each other and just had several meanings to them instead of just one.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. New York: New American Library, 1998. N. Pag. Print.
Shakespeare uses the symbol of blood in MacBeth to represent treason, guilt, murder and death. These ideas are constant throughout the book. There are many examples of blood representing these three ideas in the book.
Shakespeare used imagery to present the idea that violence will always come back to haunt us. Throughout Shakespeare’s Macbeth imagery is used to help provide a visually descriptive understanding on his literary work. Images of Hallucinations help to back up the idea of violence and how it comes back to haunt us, these ongoing visions of the dagger and the sound of the execution bell play on Macbeths awareness of the situation put into plan. Whether used to emphasise each tragedy present throughout Shakespeare’s Macbeth and it was also used to portray the witches as a character, Storms were used to present all the violence that corrupted throughout the play.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: Washington Square Press New Folger Edition, 1992
Shakespeare employs symbolism and imagery to explore the themes of Good vs. Evil and Suffering in his play Macbeth. Shakespeare uses blood to portray murder and wrongdoing, “I am in blood, stepp’d in so far that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er.” (III. iv. 136). He uses daggers to portray the same idea, and the two are often used with each
Darkness is often used at times in the play when a tragic event has occurred. The morning after Macbeth killed Duncan remained in darkness, because the sun did not rise. "Is ‘t the night’s predominance or the day’s shame that darkness does the face of the earth entomb when living light should kiss it?" (2:4, 10-12) Ross said these words referring to the unusual darkness of the day. He wondered if the night had become stronger than the day, and overcome it, so that the sun could no longer shine. He mused that it seemed as though the earth was shrouded with the darkness, when the light of the sun that brings life should have ensconced it. In this quote, darkness symbolizes death and light symbolizes life. It suggests that the whole country is as good as dead since their king has been killed, because the natural order has been disturbed. The disturbance to the natural order caused all of nature is disturbed, d...
One quotation that shows the use of symbolism is by Lady Macbeth, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say…Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” (Act 5, Scene 1, lines 30-34) (Sparknotes 2011). This quote shows the imagined blood on Lady Macbeth’s hands as the symbol of the guilt and remorse, as well as fright, that she feels over all the deaths that have been implemented by her in the play. Lady cannot get rid of the blood which is a symbol for how she cannot get the deaths out of her consciousness.
“And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death.” What can be taken from this is that from our earliest recollection, we are constantly being guided forward from yesterday to our death. If light is life, then the light just leads us to death. When these lines are read together, it enables the reader to see the despair and agony Macbeth is now suffering. The past is pushing him ahead, and the future is creeping in on him.
If a picture tells a thousand words, than imagine the importance of an image upon a play such as Macbeth. In any literary work, it is extremely important that the author can effectively manipulate a reader's feelings towards a character. In Macbeth, that feat is accomplished magnificently by Shakespeare. Through his skillful use of imagery, Shakespeare shows us a deeper look into the true character of Macbeth. Though imagery is widespread throughout Macbeth, it is most dominant in clothing imagery, light and darkness imagery, and blood imagery. Through these images,
Shakespeare often uses darkness and will frequently set the scene as a dark and stormy night. This depicts that evil happenings are occurring or are about to take place. There are at least three examples of this in "Macbeth". "The night has been unruly: where we lay,/Our chimneys were blown down; and, as they say,/Lamentings heard i’ the air; strange screams of death,..." (Act 2 scene 3 line 54-56). "Three score and ten I can remember well;/Within the volume of which time I have seen/Hours of dreadful and things strange, but this sore night/Hath trifled former knowings." (Act 2 scene 4 line 1-4). Both these quotes are talking about the night of Duncan’s death. They are showing the comparisons between the natural unruliness and the anomalous disaster. "And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp." (Act 2 scene 4 line 7) is a metaphor for both the murder of Duncan and the night in which it transpired. A dark and stormy image is also portrayed when pernicious characters (ie. the witches, Macbeth and the murderers) meet.
... a dark setting used which involved supernatural events, while the light setting was used for last battle, when Macbeth was slain at the end to show the restoration of peace and honesty. Thus the symbolism of light and darkness representing good and evil in the play emphasizes the theme of corruption of power.
But for darkness its the opposite, all the bad events took place during the night, for example when Macbeth goes to kill king Duncan because of greed, he wasn't happy with the position he received, he wanted to be king so he can have more power. Another example of Darkness is when the witches come to tell him his prophecy (I, iii, 125). This is a type of tragic situation because if the witches hadn't appeared and told Macbeth that he would be king, he wouldn't have so much lust. In this scene, Macbeth describes the witch as an ugly old lady dressed in black. The color black represents the witch’s evil nature.
Shakespeare uses many forms of imagery in his plays. Imagery, the art of making images, the products of imagination. In the play Macbeth Shakespeare applies the imagery of clothing, darkness and blood. Each detail in his imagery contains an important symbol of the play. These symbols need to be understood in order to interpret the entire play.
After Macbeth defeated Macdonwald in the first battle, Duncan says, “But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine/ On all deservers” (1.4.42-43). Duncan sincerely believes Macbeth is a noble man deserving praise and prizes, using light imagery of stars to develop his character. Following the appearance of Banquo’s ghost, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth say, “What is the night?/ Almost at odds with morning, which is which” (3.4.126-127). At this point in the play, Macbeth is responsible for four murders and can no longer discern the difference between light and dark. The inability to differentiate day and night symbolizes his fall to evil and destruction.
In Macbeth there are many examples of light verses dark imagery. In Macbeth light is represents peace. Darkness represents horrible events or death. In the beginning of the play Macbeth started out as a friendly guy that would not kill someone who does not deserve it. He started out in light by killing the traitors to the king. Later on in the play he becomes greedy and kills King Duncan to take his place. Once he kills Duncan he turns into this killing machine. Lady Macbeth started out the play on in the dark side, she wanted to have no feeling for anything that she did, and she just wanted power. Later on she became guilty and started sleep walking; she became insane and committed suicide. In the beginning of the play all of the murders were committed in darkness. This changes once the three murders kill Banquo, he is killed in torch light.
Shakespeare, William, and John Crowther. No Fear Shakespeare: Macbeth. ed. New York: Spark Publishing, 2003. Print.