Images and Imagery in Shakespeare's Macbeth

596 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Guilty conscience in the character of Macbeth

Imagery consists of the use of symbols to convey an idea or to create a specific atmosphere. Shakespeare uses imagery in Macbeth often; pathetic fallacy, blood, tailoring and sleep are examples of this. His use of these tools in the play is to demonstrate the sadness of Scotland at what has been done, the guilt of the characters and to symbolises premonition of events.

Pathetic fallacy is a tool of imagery that is used in Macbeth to convey nature's response to the unnatural events that occur. Most of the scenes in which some kind of ill-doing is taking place is set at night or in darkness of some kind. Macbeth's murder of Duncan happens at night, and it triggers a response of outrage and grief in the land. Nature's troubled actions show us this; as Lennox tells Macbeth just before Duncan is found dead,

"The night has been unruly; where we lay, or chimneys were blown down ... lamentings head i' the air ... some say the ear was feverous and did shake." (II (iii) L59)

Another good example of imagery used is blood. It is used to convey guilt, murder, betrayal, treachery and evil. Macbeth, directly after his murder of Duncan, is concerned about the blood on his hands , and states that no amount of water will wash the blood away, signifying the guilt in his heart. Lady Macbeth, however, states "A little water cleans us of this deed" (II (ii) L97). It is ironic that later on in the play Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and dry-washes her hands, ands says "What! Will these hands ne'er be clean?" (V (i) L38) -- guilt at what she has done surfaces in her sleep where none was felt before, and the reverse is true for Macbeth.

The use of tailoring to convey the idea that something is not suited or not belonging to someone that has been acquired by them is used often in Macbeth. Macbeth himself uses the tailoring image in saying "The Thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me in borrow'd robes?" (I (ii) L109) when told by Ross that Duncan has given him the title Thane of Cawdor. This gives the impression that his newly acquired title does not fit him -- much like a garment belonging to another person. Angus states,

"Now does he feel his title

Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe

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

  • U.s. History 1920-1940

    1013 Words  | 3 Pages

    The 1920’s began shortly after World War I when the Americans and the Allies defeated the Germans in 1918. It was a dawn of new politics in America when congress finally passed the women’s suffrage bill and the 19th Amendment became law, giving women the right to vote. Some twenty five million women had won the right to vote. This would play a major role in the up coming election. Many Americans were fed up with Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president from 1913 to 1921. The first election of the twenties saw Warren G. Harding win and become our nations 29th president. Unfortunately, Harding died before finishing his term and vice president Calvin Coolidge took over to become our 30th president. At the end of this term Coolidge was reelected in 1924. The United States had one of the greatest periods of prosperity ever during his presidency from 1923 to 1929. Great technological advances were also made in the 1920’s. Our nation witnessed the first flights around the world. Inventions such as cars and radios improved the standard of living for the common man. These inventions as well as the conservative economic pollicies added to a huge economic boom. “The economy experienced growth of seven to ten percent in six years of the twenties” (Vanguard, facts on funds). Later, many of the economic procedures in the decade would lead to danger especially in the stock market. “The nations total income rose from 74.3 billion in 1923 to 89 billion in 1929.”(Vanguard facts)

    Read More

  • Role of Motifs in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1253 Words  | 3 Pages

    The best way to draw a reader into a story is to focus on knowledge drawn from other sources and add to them in a way so that the reader can relate. William Shakespeare achieves just this with his ability to enhance Macbeth with reoccurring motifs throughout the play. Possibly the most prominent ones and those that represent the greatest are the sleep and serpent motifs. J When one possesses a conscience, the function to tell the difference between right and wrong; it impedes the ability to either make positive or negative decisions. If one has a clear conscience, they usually possess the ability to sleep. But when our consciences are full of guilt, they experience a state of sleeplessness. In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the sleep and sleeplessness motif to represent Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's consciences and the effect Macbeth's conscience has on the country of Scotland.

    Read More

  • The 1950's: A Deacde of Progress and Change in America

    1025 Words  | 3 Pages

    World War II had just ended. Women that were working because their husbands were out fighting in the war came back home when the war ended. The 1940’s ended and it was time for a new decade. The 1950’s were looked as a state of mind or a way of living instead of another time in American history. The 1950’s were the most influential decade in American history because the civil rights act began, fashion was completely new and trendy there were more much advancement in entertainment and medicine, and suburban life was much more functional than any other decade in America.

    Read More

  • Macbeth Lightness And Darkness Analysis

    1142 Words  | 3 Pages

    In William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, imagery is found throughout as it is demonstrated in clothing, blood/murder, and finally lightness and darkness. It reveals different things about characters in play such as suspicion of Banquo and Macduff of Macbeth on how he became the King of Scotland, to Macbeth’s fear of losing the crown which revealed his evil side to commit murder to try and protect what he has wanted all of his life. Macbeth’s choices put his life in jeopardy. In life, there are little things people look over that may just open their eyes and see the world from a new

    Read More

  • Napoleon

    321 Words  | 1 Pages

    Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “Nothing has been simpler than my elevation…It is owing to the peculiarities of the time.” Coming to power at a time of instability and disorder in France immediately following the French Revolution, Napoleon quickly established himself as the political leader and military power behind France. Easily and efficiently overthrowing the poorly managed Directory, Napoleon established a three man governing body referred to as the Consulate. Naming himself Consul for Life in 1802, and crowning himself emperor in 1804, Napoleon made it clear that is was a time of dramatic change in France. Although establishing himself as an absolute ruler, Napoleon did it all with the support of the people, through the use of a plebiscite. Obviously a man that held immense power, Napoleon has been credited with many great successes. To the people of France, Napoleon was a savior, a man who could, despite being an autocrat, implement the ideals of the French Revolution. Establishing order, giving the French people a sense of security, and running his government smoothly became Napoleon’s priorities. Through a variety of reforms including, centralizing the government, establishing public education, instituting religious tolerance specifically signing the Concordat of 1801, and stimulating the economy, Napoleon won the support of French people across the classes, including the peasantry who in years previous had suffered greatly under absolute rulers. One of Napoleon’s most lasting reforms was his installment of the Napoleonic Code, a set of laws that reflected the idea of equality so evidently bannered throughout the French Revolution. Napoleon was able to capture the attention of the French people through every facet except absolutism.

    Read More

  • The 1920s and 1930s

    1678 Words  | 4 Pages

    The 1940s changed through just about everything: war, technology, and presidents. After the great depression in the 1920s the American Dream went in a new direction and began the postmodernist era. The American Dream in the 1950s was different from the American Dream in the 1940s because of the culture and by many factors throughout the twenty year span like government, technology, war, and women's rights.

    Read More

  • The Roaring Twenties

    802 Words  | 2 Pages

    Surrounded by all of these exciting new products and inventions, the average person understandably felt very good about the situation of the economy and the nation during the nineteen twenties. Despite the positive social vibe of the time period, however, many different paradoxes and dichotomies existed which contributed to the underlying problems which would render the Great Depression unavoidable. First, and most importantly, there existed a sense of overt conservatism, when in actuality the twenties was a time of change and liberalism.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Chaos In Macbeth

    420 Words  | 1 Pages

    The second example is when Lennox talks about killing Macbeth right before the final scene. This example of imagery does not specifically mention blood, but blood is suggested as it deals will killing Macbeth. Lennox suggests that “Or so much as it needs, / To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. / Make we our march towards Birnam” (5.2.29-31). This quote explains that Macbeth’s reign of chaos is at an end. The blood imagery also shows that one of the witches’ prophecies has been fulfilled and Macbeth’s death is inevitable. Mack Maynard, author of Everybody’s Shakespeare Reflections Chiefly on the Tragedies and a Yale scholar says,“Yet it finally covers anything that Macbeth has touched, in ways qualitative and quantitative that real blood cannot”(191). Mack suggests that blood imagery covers everything Macbeth has done, and it explains things that cannot be explained otherwise. Shakespeare’s numerous examples of blood imagery explain how Macbeth’s grave deeds lead to his downfall and creates chaos by using blood or suggesting

    Read More

  • Macbeth Blood Imagery Essay

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    For many writers, using imagery in order to convey characteristics or changing themes throughout their work is a necessity. William Shakespeare, a classic and idolized writer known by all, is no exception to this. In his tragic play, Macbeth, Shakespeare’s imagery is vital to fully comprehend the characters and events as the titular character and his wife attempt to quench their thirst for power. With Shakespeare’s use of blood imagery, the changes in Macbeth’s feelings towards himself and others as well as the change in the supporting characters’ feelings towards the titular character is made clear throughout the play.

    Read More

  • Blood As An Image In Macbeth

    564 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare uses the symbol of blood in MacBeth to represent treason, guilt, murder and death. These ideas are constant throughout the book. There are many examples of blood representing these three ideas in the book.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Macbeth Essay: Blood Images and Imagery

    392 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Blood Imagery In Macbeth

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare’s playwright shows the betrayal of Macbeth and how his wife Lady Macbeth contributes.. The use of blood imagery in Macbeth shows the character development of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and as they switch personalities.

    Read More

  • Macbeth’s Tragic Flaw

    517 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play, Macbeth possesses many strengths such as honor, respect, and he was viewed as being courageous. Macbeth was given the title “Thane of Cawdor " because he used his strengths to his advantage and was recognized for them. “For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name--Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour's minion carv'd out his passage, Till he fac'd the slave" (Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 16-20). This is the king speaking highly of Macbeth and the qualities he has and praising him for them. The one major event that changes Macbeth forever is when he murders Banquo. After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth slowly lo...

    Read More

  • Comparing Kamau's Finish And Bunion Derby

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    Running is proven as a sport that is extremely difficult, both mentally and physically. By looking at two different short stories, “Kamau’s Finish” and “Bunion Derby” both about the hardships and mental challenge of running, we learn that in life humility and perseverance play a large role in a satisfying victory. While these two stories share a common these, the way each main character portrays the theme through their challenges is really what sets the two apart.

    Read More

More about Images and Imagery in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Open Document