Theme Of Darkness In Macbeth

1297 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Light and darkness symbolism in macbeth

A picture can paint a thousand words. William Shakespeare paints a thousand words with the image of darkness in abundance throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth. Darkness can be conveyed in many ways. Darkness in society is symbolic of evil. For instance, a black cat, a dark night, or even dark places are all symbolic of things connected with witchcraft or evil. When an individual imagines darkness, they imagine wickedness, evil, and negativity. Through Shakespeare’s use of imagery, he is able to show the reader a deeper importance behind the darkness in this tragedy. He uses darkness to influence Macbeth’s decisions and illustrates darkness as a blanket to cover up bad deeds; in addition, he evolves darkness into a personality which plagues both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Shakespeare begins the play with darkness; using lightning and thunder to introduce evil, the evil introduced are three witches. Before the witches meet with Macbeth, together they recite “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Shakespeare I, I 10), simultaneously. By saying this, the presence of darkness sets the temperament for the entire play. These three witches use their ability to influence the future in order to effect Macbeth’s decisions. The witches play a very important role as they initiate the evil plot. This tragedy opens with a scene filled with thunder and lightning. This scene takes place in darkness, and is the first time the reader is seeing it as being natural. The combination of the dark weather and witches gives the reader an indication that something vile is about to occur. After the Norwegian forces have been defeated, King Duncan wants to give Macbeth his new title as the Thane of Cawdor. However, before this happens, the witches greet Macbeth ...

... middle of paper ...

...mind too. She gradually loses her power after Duncan's death. She fades into a lonely, guilt-ridden, and suicidal sorrow. She sleepwalks, hallucinates, and carries a light source with her at all times. Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking turns her nights into days. Her insistence that she always have a light by her at night shows that the darkness she once embraced has taken control. “What, will these hands ne'er be clean? -- No more o' /that, my lord, no more o' that: you mar/ all with this starting” (Shakespeare V, I 48-50). The darkness that she welcomed in order to pursue her selfish ambitions has become guilt. She chooses death as an escape from her guilt of the murders committed. She commits suicide because she could not handle the torment of her conscience any longer. The darkness that takes form in both of these characters leads them to their internal destructions.

Show More
Related

  • Deceit and Betrayal in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the first scene of the first act, three witches plan their next meeting in which they will encounter Macbeth. It is in this scene that the motif is first presented, as the tree witches chant, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air" (1.1.11-12). The witches meet again in scene three of act one. One of the witches discusses a curse she has placed on a woman's husband, because she refused to share her food. This display of evil powers and spitefulness, suggests that the witches may have some influence in the development of the motif. Macbeth enters during this scene along with Banquo, arriving from a victorious battle. He uses the motif to describe the day as "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" (1.3.38). When Macbeth encounters the witches, they give him two predictions. One is that he will become the thane of Cawdor, and then the king of Scotland.

    Read More

  • Patterns of Images and Imagery in Macbeth

    1293 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Shakespeare's Macbeth, various types of imagery are used throughout the play. Five of these images are nature, paradoxes, manhood, masks, and light vs. darkness. In Act I, Scene i, Line 1, the description of "Thunder and lightning" represents disturbances in nature. The witches are surrounded by a shroud of thunder and lightning, which might personify them as disturbances. In Act II, Scene i, the dark night creates a perfect scene for the baneful murders.

    Read More

  • Macbeth's Tragic Flaw Quotes

    1377 Words  | 3 Pages

    Macbeth began this play with a great future ahead of him: a Thane to the King with a great life and many friends. Shortly after Macbeth is given the title Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth and his companion Banquo encounter a group of witches. The witches are portrayed as wicked and menacing, saying “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air” (Act 1, Scene 1). This quote shows that what appears to be fair and good, similar to that of Macbeth at the beginning of this play. This quote also applies to the Witches themselves. The Witches’ prophecies to Banquo and Macbeth appear to be fair and very appealing to the men, but are actually very deceiving and leads to Macbeth’s ultimate downfall. Following Macbeth’s visit by the witches, he tells Lady Macbeth of his encounter but says that he does not wish to kill King Duncan to become King. Shakespeare characterizes Lady Macbeth as an evil mastermind, using her powers of seduction to challenge Macbeth’s masculinity. Macbeth may not have murdered for the throne if it was not for the actions of Lady Macbeth, who accuses Macbeth of being too kind hearted to take the closest path to the throne. Macbeth’s downfall begins with the actions that his wife convinces him to take. Shakespeare uses characterization to show that Macbeth is a tragic hero, but these characters’ actions also cause many conflicts that lead to Macbeth’s

    Read More

  • Images and Imagery in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    From the beginning of the play the image of darkness is introduced.  Darkness was called upon by Banquo, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.  Banquo, in his aside to Macbeth says,

    Read More

  • Impact of Guilt on MacBeth

    790 Words  | 2 Pages

    Guilt causes the main characters’ consciences to overcome them mentally and physically causing their downfalls. In the tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the recurring theme of night and darkness is used to symbolize guilt and conscience such as when Macbeth and Lady Macbeth want the darkness to conceal their evil deeds and in the end, when Lady Macbeth is afraid of the darkness and nighttime. In Act I, after King Duncan names Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland, Macbeth is already plotting to kill Duncan. He asks the darkness to come and hide his evil deeds so no one would see the terrible thing he was about to do.

    Read More

  • Change of Macbeth in William Shakespeare's Play

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    that King Duncan has named Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. After Macbeth hears this news he begins to think that the witches' predictions will all come true and he will be King. Although in the Elizabethan times witches were seen as evil and part of the supernatural, this is. supported by the quote. The "Fair is foul and foul is fair" This shows that Shakespeare wants the audience to perceive the witches.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Sound in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1907 Words  | 4 Pages

    Macbeth, the shortest and perhaps darkest play by Shakespeare, is a tale of over-riding ambition, human nature, and supernatural meddling. Macbeth is the main character in the play, and although he begins the story a loyal subject and brave hero, the power bestowed on him poisens and corrupts him until he eventually turns evil and seeks more, to his downfall. As the central figure of the play, Macbeth sets in motion a sequence of events that brings about the destruction and eventual rebirth of Scotland, giving the play an essentially dark tone. There are, however, varying degrees of evil, subtly different in texture and context. One way Shakespeare indicates the styles of evil throughout the play Macbeth is through the use of sounds. Sounds in the play fall under four categories: nature, man-made, the sounds of battle, and human cries.

    Read More

  • Use of Night and Darkness in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare is known for his descriptively rich plays. He also ways does an excellent job of describing both the characters as well as the setting. One specific area of the play MacBeth is the use of night and darkness to show evil or happening that are not right. Examples of this are the many appearances of the witches, the murders that occur, and the conflicts that MacBeth faces with his mental health. The following three paragraphs will further discuss these topics.

    Read More

  • Light, Darkness, and the Great Chain of Being Depicted in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    707 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare's Macbeth is an ominous tale that illustrates the danger in violating the Great Chain of Being, the hierarchy of things in God's ordered universe. The Chain ranked all of creation and human society as well. It ranked kings above nobles and nobles above the poor. When Macbeth murdered King Duncan and assumed the throne, the Chain was violated and chaos resulted. The atmosphere of the play symbolized this resulting turmoil. Specifically, light and darkness were used to exemplify the unnatural chaos and ominous tone of the work. The role of light and the role of darkness relates to the chaos resulting from the violation of the Great Chain of Being.

    Read More

  • Dark Images and Imagery in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    871 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare uses a lot of imagery of night and darkness in Macbeth. This imagery is used to portray an image of a desolate, deranged place, full of tumult and disorder. Darkness and night imagery is also used to create an atmosphere of malevolence and misleading obscurity. Images of night and darkness are often used at times in the play when a death has occurred, or some other tragic event. Shakespeare also uses imagery of night and darkness in scenes with the witches, to make them seem evil and unruly. When someone is doing or thinking of something evil, there is often imagery of night and darkness, which helps to causes it to appear more evil and deranged. The images of night and darkness make the play more entertaining and captivating, which maintains the audience’s attention.

    Read More

  • Imagery In Macbeth

    1784 Words  | 4 Pages

    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,

    Read More

  • The Themes of Macbeth

    996 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the most important themes in Macbeth involves the witches' statement in Act 1, Scene1 that "fair is foul and foul is fair." (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 10) This phrase aptly describes the macabre status quo within the character Macbeth and without.  When Macbeth and Banquo first see the weird sisters, Banquo is horrified by their hideous appearances.  Conversely, Macbeth immediately began to converse with these universally known evil creatures.  After hearing their prophecies, one can say that Macbeth considered the witches to be "fair" when in reality their intentions were quite "foul." Macbeth's possession of the titles of Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland came by foul means.  Macbeth became the Thane of Glamis by his father Sinel's death; he became Thane of Cawdor when the former namesake was executed for treason; and he was ordained King of Scotland after murdering the venerable Duncan.  Thus, Macbeth has a rather ghastly way of advancing in life.

    Read More

  • Macbeth - Evil And Darkness

    619 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

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

    1097 Words  | 3 Pages

    Light and darkness represent the tragedies that took place throughout the play. Light represents the good things that happen and darkness represents bad or evil things. One example of light is when Macbeth was given the thane of Gladis he was very elated and there was sunshine at that time. 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 used this traditional symbol through the play to focus on the Elizabethan concept of the Great Chain. When the chain is in order everything is good and there is light. When the chain is violated bad things happen and there is evil and darkness. When Macbeth committed the act of killing Banqu...

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Use of the Supernatural in "Macbeth"

    858 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the opening scene of the play, the entrance of the three witches depicts the first presence of supernatural in Macbeth. The presence of the supernatural forces of the witches was accompanied by the dark, gloomy and thunderous ambience, perhaps functioning as a foreshadowing of future events that involves evil, wickedness and darkness. This is important as it gives the audience an idea of what might happen later in the play. For example, we see that later on in the play, Macbeth turned evil and wicked, killing an old and honourable King Duncan and a loyal friend, Banquo. I take particular note of the significance of darkness as it was later used by Macbeth when he calls upon the "seeling Night" (Act III. Scene ii. Line 46) which `makes clear vision impossible', as a way to cover up his evil deeds. Foreshadowing of `evilness' which is also a theme in the play is also created when the witches, before leaving the first scene, cried in unison that "Fair is foul and foul is fair" (Act I. Scene ii. Line 11). This line suggests and gives the audience a foreshadow that ...

    Read More

More about Theme Of Darkness In Macbeth

Open Document