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Symbolism essay on the play macbeth
Symbolism essay on the play macbeth
Symbolism essay on the play macbeth
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Use of Imagery in Macbeth
In Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses many forms of imagery, including the forms of clothing and darkness. Each detail in his imagery contains an important symbol of the play. These symbols that must be understood if one is to understand either the passage which contains it or the play as a whole.
In Macbeth, the image of clothing is used to suggest that throughout the play, Macbeth is seeking to hide his "disgraceful self" from his eyes and from others. Shakespeare wants to keep alive the ironical contrast between the wretched creature that Macbeth really is and the disguises he assumes to conceal that fact. Secondly, honors are thought of as garments to be worn; likewise, Macbeth is constantly represented symbolically as the wearer of robes not belonging to him. He is wearing an "undeserved dignity." A crucial point in describing the purpose of clothing in ‘Macbeth' is found in the fact that these are not his garments. Therefore, Macbeth is uncomfortable in them because he is continually conscious of the fact that they do not belong to him. In the following passage, the idea constantly recurs that Macbeth's new honours sit ill upon him, like a loose and badly fitting garment, belonging to someone else:
New honours come upon him,
Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould,
But with the aid of use.
(1.3.144)
The second, most important chain of imagery used to add to the atmosphere is that of darkness. In a Shakespearean tragedy, a special tone, or atmosphere, must be created to show the darkness and blackness of it. In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the design of the witches, the guilt in Macbeth's soul, and the darkness of the night to establish the atmosphere. The most remarkable scenes take place at night or in some dark spot. For instance, the vision of the dagger, the murder of Duncan, the murder of Banquo, and Lady Macbeth's sleep-walking all occur at night. Darkness is when the traveler hastens to reach safety in his inn, when Banquo rides homeward to meet his assassins. Furthermore, it is the time when the wolf howls, the owl screams and murder steals forth to his work.
The darkness symbolizes many things. First, and most importantly, it stands for the death and evil in the play. The darkness could partially block out all of the horrible things that occur in the night.
In conclusion, blood imagery is clearly used to show the character development of Macbeth. It is apparent when it first introduces Macbeth to readers as a noble thane. The development progresses when blood is described as un-washable on Macbeth’s hands. It is obvious that it has changed him after he commits more and more murders. Blood imagery shows him to become the antagonist of the play. Finally, in the end, before his death, blood imagery shows Macbeth’s full development as a disloyal and morally wrong tyrant. It is evident that blood imagery progressively shows the character development of Macbeth throughout the play.
The vision of the dagger, the murder of Duncan, the murder of Banquo, the sleep-walking of Lady Macbeth, all come in night scenes. The Witches dance in the thick air of a storm or, 'black and midnight hags', receive Macbeth in a cavern. The blackness of night is to the hero a thing of fear, even of horror; and that which he feels becomes the spirit of the play. The faint glimmerings of the western sky at twilight are here menacing: it is the hour when the traveller hastens to reach safety in his inn, and when Banquo rides homeward t meet his assassins; the hour when 'light thickens', when 'night's black agents to their prey do rouse', when the wolf begins to howl, and the owl to scream, and withered murder steals forth to his work. (307)
Shakespeare used the two distinct opposites light vs. dark to mirror good vs. evil. As soon as King Duncan is murdered, the light in the world disapears.Although, everyone has light and dark inside them, the part we chose to act on makes us who we really are. Macbeth allowed the darkness to bring out his true colors and not only destroy his life, but the lives of everyone around him. Sadly, once Lady Macbeths life is taken over by the dark she trys anything to force light into it. The roles light and dark play in this tragedy are essential not only to the plot, but the vivid image in one's mind.
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Shakespeare employs the powerful symbol of blood to augment the tragic nature of Macbeth, while dually adding dramatic effect to the play. Blood’s recurring symbolism throughout the play constantly reminds the audience of the Macbeth’s irreconcilable guilt. Blood’s symbolism in the murder of Duncan transforms an act of treachery into a ghastly betrayal. The symbolic appearance of blood throughout the intermediate parts of the play maintains the depth of the Macbeth’s unforgiveable guilt. The use of blood as a symbol in the conclusion of the play asserts the perpetuity of the Macbeth’s guilt. Shakespeare’s inclusion of blood as a major symbol in Macbeth creates a compelling tragedy in which the audience is able to comprehend the magnitude of the Macbeth’s irreconcilable guilt.
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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.
William Shakespeare uses many techniques to liven the intensity, and the excitement in his plays. In the play of MacBeth, Shakespeare uses blood imagery to add a sense of fear, guilt, shame, insanity, and anger to the atmosphere. The use of blood imagery allows the audience to vision in their minds the crime scene where Duncan was murdered, as well as the scene where Lady MacBeth tries to cope with the consequences of her actions. The talk and sight of blood has a great impact on the strength and depth of the use of blood imagery.
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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.
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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.