Symbolism Of Animals In Macbeth

299 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Symbolism in macbeth

In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, there were many animals mentioned that have symbolic meanings. In this essay I will be analyzing the animal imagery/symbolism in the play. The use of animals in the play is to help us better understand the play as the viewer has something to connect to. It also makes the play interesting, helps with dramatic irony, and creates emotion. Animals in the play are used to describe events in a more engaging way, it is used to foreshadow events, used to describe Macbeth, and used to compare things. In my opinion I think that the most important animals in the play is the owl, the serpent, the horse, and the lion. Firstly, the owl is an important animal in the play because owls are night creatures.

Show More
Related

  • Animals' Behaviour Often Reflect One's Own

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout many literary works, authors use animals or their behaviour to mimic or represent ideas in order to signify certain aspects of the characters and setting. In the tragic play of Macbeth, William Shakespeare successfully uses animal imagery as a prominent symbol to foresee upcoming events as well to portray Macbeth's growing guilty conscience. Thus, Shakespeare effectively employs animal imagery as a symbol in order to reinforce and highlight Macbeth’s mental deterioration in this tragic play.

    Read More

  • Use Of Metaphors In Macbeth

    1576 Words  | 4 Pages

    Macbeth is the story of how an ordinary war hero becomes king and later goes chaotic with power. The story starts off in Scotland when Macbeth and Banquo meet some witches who predict their futures, telling Macbeth that he will be Thane of Cawdor, and the king of Scotland. Ross; one of the king’s lords, delivers the news that Macbeth has become the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth now believes that he will become king. To achieve this, Macbeth invites King Duncan over for a dinner.

    Read More

  • Macbeth - Images and Imagery

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    MacbethL Imagery & nbsp; & nbsp;           One of the most important tools in literature is imagery.  It is not just in there to fill up paper; rather, there is at least one dramatic purpose. for each image and there are many different types of imagery.  This essay seeks to prove that in the play Macbeth the author William Shakespeare uses darkness. imagery for three dramatic purposes.  Those three purposes are, to create. atmosphere, to arouse the emotions of the audience and to contribute to the major theme of the play. & nbsp;     The darkness imagery in Macbeth contributes to its ominous atmosphere.  In At the very beginning of the play, the three witches are talking and the first witch says "When shall we three meet again? 

    Read More

  • Imagery In Macbeth: A Dark And Stormy Night

    1467 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare was one of the most celebrated playwrights of all time. He uses powerful imagery in order to show the tone, and foreshadow what is to come in many of his plays. In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses weather imagery in order to set the tone and foreshadow what is about to happen in the scene.

    Read More

  • Literary Devices Used In Macbeth

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    Literary Devices used in Macbeth Imagine how dull a Shakespearean play would be without the ingenious literary devices and techniques that contribute so much to the fulfillment of its reader or viewer. Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy that combines fact and legend to tell the story of an eleventh century king. Shakespeare uses numerous types of literary techniques to make this tragic play more appealing. Three literary devices that Shakespeare uses to make Macbeth more interesting and effective are irony, symbolism, and imagery. One technique that Shakespeare uses is ironic.

    Read More

  • The Symbolism of Blood in Macbeth

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    The seventeenth-century play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, employs blood as a powerful symbol to amplify the tragic nature of the work. Prior to, and immediately following Duncan’s death, blood magnifies the treachery of Macbeth’s murderous act. Throughout the play, blood constantly reminds the audience of the ruthless means the Macbeths implement to gain the crown. In the culmination of the play, blood symbolizes the irreconcilable guilt that will haunt the Macbeths for the duration of their lives. Blood’s ubiquitous symbolism emphasizes the constant guilt felt by the Macbeths in their tragic pursuit of the monarchy.

    Read More

  • What Does A Snake Symbolize In Macbeth

    289 Words  | 1 Pages

    Ambition can inhibit one’s personality to be decisive and ruthless. In Act One, Scene 5, of the play, Macbeth, one symbol that illustrates Lady Macbeth’s cleverness and bloodlust is a snake. Culturally, a snake is representative of something negative, fearful, untrustworthy, or mysterious. A snake is a known predator and for a snake to make its kills, it must be quick and cunning. In other words, a snake symbolises a person who will attack or retaliate with vengeance, relating to either temptation or revenge. Although Lady Macbeth seems to be a woman of great nobility by her composure, an underlying ambition is revealed through her actions. She wants to “pour [her] spirits in thine ear” and tell her husband about a plan for him to become King

    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

  • How Does Shakespeare Use Symbols In Macbeth

    376 Words  | 1 Pages

    William Shakespeare explores many themes and motifs throughout the work of Macbeth. He frequently uses the motif of serpents to symbolize malicious intents and actions of the characters. Snakes are symbolic in many ways throughout the book, meaning they inherit various interpretations. The imagery of snakes in Macbeth is evident through the concept of “two-faced” people. Referring back to the text it states, “False face must hide what the false heart doth know,”(Act 1, scene 7). From the quote above it is evident how Macbeth is portraying his innocence although he knows he is guilty. He is purposely hiding his ambitions and greed in return for the throne. This clearly illustrates the insincerity of his character.

    Read More

  • The Use Of Animal Imagery In Othello

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s play “Othello” the use of animal imagery was evident throughout the telling of the story of the.. Shakespeare explained several characters actions by comparing them to similarities in animals. The characters in “Othello” were often depicted as having animal-like characteristics. Some characters were even compared to animals by other characters in the play. By defining characters in terms of these characteristics one can get a clear description of what the character is doing or saying as compared to certain animals.

    Read More

  • Macbeth - Foreshadowing Using Animals

    1213 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thesis Statement: Throughout the play of Macbeth, Shakespeare chooses to use animals to portray foreshadowing, to develop character and to evoke a wide variety of emotions from the audience.

    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

  • The Theme of Birds in Macbeth

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first function of the bird as a thematic image is to foreshadow. And the most important foreshadowing of the play is the inevitable murder of the King of Scotland, Duncan, by the Macbeth. It is first seen during the Captain’s dialogue describing the battle between Macbeth and Banquo against Macdonwald. He compared them to “As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion”3. From this phrase, the reversal of the roles can be clearly seen when the sparrow and the hare became the predators of the eagle and the lion became their prey. Another example is seen during Lady Macbeth’s beginning soliloquy, “The raven himself is hoarse/ That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan/ Under my battlements”4, the introduction leading to the murder scene of Duncan. The raven, which is the bird that symbolizes death, is the omen that signals Duncan’s doom.

    Read More

  • Symbols, Symbolism, Images, and Imagery in Macbeth

    793 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Interpretations of Macbeth

    1631 Words  | 4 Pages

    As with all great works of literature, William Shakespeare’s Macbeth has spawned countless essays concerning its interpretation. Two such essays, “Shakespearean Tragedy” and “General Macbeth,” produced by two eminent literary critics, A.C. Bradley and Mary McCarthy, find themselves in conflict. The essays’ respective authors diverge on subjective points such as interpretation of character, original intent, and meaning. Bradley’s Macbeth is courageous and encumbered by the dregs of guilt, while McCarthy’s version takes a less orthodox path.

    Read More

More about Symbolism Of Animals In Macbeth

Open Document