Imagery and Symbolism in "Macbeth"

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Shakespeare uses imagery and symbolism to weave an intriguing web of darkness and evil that captivates the audience throughout the play, "Macbeth." Two important symbols are darkness and blood. Combined with violent weather and witches, they help to weave an eerie tale of murder plotted by Lady Macbeth and eventually embraced and executed by Macbeth.

Dark and stormy nights often set the scene, and they become analogous with the happening of evil deeds. Intertwined with dark, stormy nights is the appearance of witches and the powerful symbol of blood. Although blood was first a symbol of honor and bravery, it morphed into an inescapable guilt of their crimes for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The darkness that veils their murderous deeds and the blood that doesn't wash away turn into forces of evil that ultimately plague and destroy them.

"Macbeth" begins with the witches, three haggard old women, appearing in thunder and lighting which, in those times, conjured up superstitions of unrest and creatures of darkness. They chant in eerie tones and indicate that their next meeting will be on the hearth "ere the setting sun" to confront Macbeth. (Shakespeare, (I., i.) They continue chanting, "fair is foul, and foul is fair," (Shakespeare, I.,i) indicating that moral order will change and lead to confusion. The witches may allude to a fair thing, but it has a hidden meaning that is foul. Good is evil, and evil is good. [not a quote] (Shakespeare, I.,i) ; the witches are evil and love evil. They vanish the scene as quickly as they had appeared.

In a raging war between the royal army and rebels, Macbeth is hailed as heroic and brave. Blood is seen as a symbol of courage and valor for Macbeth who fights valiantly on the bl...

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...es the honor and bravery of the good people while it signifies the betrayal and guilt of the evil people. Macbeth starts out as honorable and ends up as evil. When Macduff triumphs over Macbeth, he brings the symbol of blood back to honorable.

In today's society, there are similar feelings about darkness, storms, witches and blood. There are fears of dark places, black cats and dark nights. Storms are feared, especially when they happen at night. Witches are thought of as eerie, evil creatures living in dark places and doing evil deeds in the dark of night. Although blood is thought of as life giving, life sustaining and life saving, it also indicates injury, death, murder or other evil deeds. All of these can create feelings of chaos and an unnatural order of nature and society. They can manifest a chaotic life, a chaotic country or a chaotic world.

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