Light and Darkness in Macbeth

582 Words2 Pages

Light and Darkness in Macbeth

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... chaos resulted. The atmosphere of the play symbolized this resulting turmoil. Specifically, light and shadow were used to exemplify the unnatural chaos and ominous tone of the work. This essay will explore the role of light and the role of darkness as it relates to the chaos resulting from the violation of the Great Chain of Being.

Light is a common symbol for good tidings and order, so it is with Shakespeare's "Macbeth". At the announcement of his successor, his son, King Duncan said, "Which honor must not unaccompanied invest him [The Prince of Cumberland, King Duncan's son and successor to the throne] only, but signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine / on all deservers" (Shakespeare 189). King Duncan pledged his throne to his son as would be compatible with the Great Chain of Being. The light that was mentioned suggests that all was right with the world; the Great Chain of Being was in proper order. The idea that light signifies the natural order of things is enforced when the nobleman Ross says, "And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp [the sun]" (Shakespeare 206). The sun is the symbol of the Great Chain of Being and God's order in harmony because it is the source of all natural light. Macbeth's act of regicide disturbed the natural order of things and so subdued the sun.

In "Macbeth", light is a symbol of harmony and order, but darkness is just the opposite.

Darkness is the chaos and evil that results from a broken Great Chain of Being. Macbeth sent Scotland into turmoil and dark night when he murdered King Duncan. In response to the announcement of the Prince of Cumberland as the successor to the throne of Scotland, Macbeth said, "... Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires [to murder both King Duncan and the Prince of Cumberland]" (Shakespeare 189).

Show More
Related

  • Andy Warhol And Ai Weiwei

    1509 Words  | 4 Pages

    Known for being the father of Pop Art, and a giant in pop culture, Warhol dominated the art scene from the late fifties up until his untimely death in 1987. However Warhol’s influence spread further then the art world, he also was a major player in the LGBT, avant-garde and experimental cinema movements. Born in 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Slovakian immigrant parents, Warhol came from humble beginnings. Becoming widely known for debuting the concept of ‘pop art’ in 1962. Warhol’s reach grew further when he started experimenting with film, becoming a major player in the LGBT, avant-garde and experimental cinema movements. Warhol’s artist studio, known famously as ‘The Factory’ became a hub for experimentation, and a go-to point for celebrities, musicians and trans folk. During this time, Warhol came out as an openly gay man, challenging the status quo of the day, a time when being homosexual was illegal. While also producing highly experiential films such as ‘Blow Job’ (1964) and ‘Sleep’ (1964) which were highly political and provocative, at the time. As art critic Dave Hickey asserts, “Art has political consequences, which is to say, it reorganized society and creates constituencies of people around it” (Hickey, 2007), Andy Warhol’s art and lived experience created a political constituency which can be best recognised in the function of the “Silver Factory” on

    Read More

  • Essay On Anne Frank

    582 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lots of families had to hide during holocaust to prevent from going to Auschwitz. One of those families where Anne Frank’s family. According to The World of Anne Frank website, Anne frank was a Jewish little girl born on June 12 1929 in Frankfurt Germany. Having only one older sister, Margot Frank, Anne came from a small family. Her and her family were in the upper middle class and was pretty wealthy. Her father, Otto Frank, was a lieutenant for the German army then later became businessman. The Franks thought that life was good and everything was fine, until they heard about what was going on around where they were living. Lots of people thou...

    Read More

  • Memories of the Atomic Bomb Shown in "Children Are Game" and "Atomic Bomb"

    2298 Words  | 5 Pages

    Warhol, Andy. The Philosophy of Andy Warhol: (from A to B and Back Again). Orlando: Harcourt, 2006. Print.

    Read More

  • Lust of Power Depicted in William Shakespeare´s Macbeth

    711 Words  | 2 Pages

    Murder, ghosts, and floating daggers are the usual attractions for most that read William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and yet there is an important theme that some might overlook. Written in the early 17th century, Macbeth is believed to be based upon historical events listed in Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of Scotland and other current events of the time. Shakespeare constructs the memorable world of Macbeth with a mysterious and sinister atmosphere, incorporating diabolical elements into this world with the appearance of Hecate, witches, prophecies and ghostly apparitions. Throughout his story, Macbeth becomes controlled by desire for power, by allowing himself to be influenced, using evil means to gain and maintain power to the point that Macbeth is blinded to all else. In Macbeth, Shakespeare vividly demonstrates a recognizable theme of the weighty pull that power holds over those with authority.

    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

  • Macbeth - Images and Imagery

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    (Macbeth 1. 1. line 1).  This is a good example of darkness imagery because when

    Read More

  • Pop Art: Evolution, Influence, and Andy Warhol

    982 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pop art is an experimental art which surfaced in Great Britain in the early 1950’s. One of the major art movements of the twentieth century, it came into its own in the United States in the late 1950’s. This art form incorporated photographs in ways that had not been utilized before. It utilized mass-culture imagery and iconography, in contrast to the traditional tendencies of fine art. Pop art is considered to be one of the last modern art movements and served as a precursor to postmodern art. The art form is characterized by themes and techniques derived from mass culture, including advertising and comic books. Perhaps one of the most famous Pop artists, is Andy Warhol.

    Read More

  • Andy Warhol: The Leader Of The Pop Art Movement

    834 Words  | 2 Pages

    Before I started this research paper, all I knew about Andy Warhol was that he was the leader of the pop art movement. Reading his book and many biographies written about him, I have learned that Warhol is a truly complex character. I found out during my research that Warhol is a hoarder. Warhol himself has admitted that he had a problem with throwing anything away. In his book, he addressed that he wanted a clean empty space, but his mind wouldn’t let him. This new perspective of Warhol allowed me to tie his artwork as a reflection of his mind. I think Andy Warhol as exactly what he was, an artist in New York City. I cannot imagine Warhol outside of the NYC scene because Warhol was very provocative for the time period he lived in and NYC is perfect for people like

    Read More

  • The Horrendous Evil Within Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1962 Words  | 4 Pages

    Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a recognized classic tragedy portraying the victory of good over evil. This paper will explore the various expressions of evil within the play.

    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

  • The Diary of an Anne Frank

    1501 Words  | 4 Pages

    On Anne’s thirteenth birthday she received various presents, but the present that she cherished the most was her diary that she named “Kitty”. The Diary of Anne Frank, captures Anne’s feelings, emotions, thoughts, and events that surrounded her. On May 10, 1940 the German Army invaded the Netherlands, where Anne and her family lived. The invasion caused them to go into secret hiding, because of fear of their life. This was the first measure in the campaign of persecution against the Jews of the Netherlands. A short phrase captures Anne’s emotions about this situation; “Anti-Jewish decrees followed each other in quick succession. Jews must wear yellow star, Jews must hand in their bicycles, Jew are banned from trams and are forbidden to drive. Jews must be indoor by eight o’clock and cannot even sit in their own gardens after hour. Jews may not take part in any public sports. Jews may not visit Christians. Our freedom was strictly limited. Yet things were bearable.” Even though things were tough, Anne always tried to look for the good things in situations and make the best of them.

    Read More

  • Symbolism In Macbeth

    1089 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... 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.

    Read More

  • The Life and Works of Annie Leibovitz

    1349 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1949, Annie Leibovitz was born in Westbury, Connecticut. Based on Peter Marshall's article posted in About.com, as a student, Leibovitz had an architectural dig at King Solomon's Temple in Israel by 1969. By 1970, she had her first photograph published by the magazine "Rolling Stone." When she graduated from San Francisco Art Institute with her BFA in 1971, she became the magazine's principal photographer in 1973 and stayed with them for the next ten years. Her major influences especially when she was at college were Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Frank.

    Read More

  • Andy Warhol's Influence On Pop Culture

    1021 Words  | 3 Pages

    The modern artist, Andy Warhol, is one of the most well known pop artists of the 1960’s. Warhol purposely strayed away from the very emotional painting style of the Abstract Expressionists. He was influenced heavily by American Pop culture, borrowing several images as well as ordinary consumer products for his pieces. Ultimately he approached his art in a way to have commercial or advertisement look. Warhol’s goal was to strip down art of its magical qualities, and wanted it to look like anybody could do it. Warhol’s work explores a vast number of ideas in American Pop culture.

    Read More

  • Essay On Anne Frank

    835 Words  | 2 Pages

    Growing up Anne lived in a very wealthy and happy home. Her father was a very successful man. He owned his own business and provided more than enough for the Frank family. When Anne was born in Frankfurt am Maine, Germany on June 12, 1929 her mom and dad moved to Amsterdam, Germany. (Web. 5 Mar 2014.) Anne was one of many children, with one older sister and two brothers. (Web. 5 Mar 2014.) The Frank family always helped and served Germany whenever they could. (Web. 5 Mar 2014.) During WW1 Anne’s two brothers helped serve in the German army while her mom and older sister volunteered at different hospitals to help the troops. (Web. 5 Mar 2014.)

    Read More

More about Light and Darkness in Macbeth

Open Document