Darkness In Macbeth Essay

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William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, displays profound motifs and themes of darkness, prophecy and manhood that are repeatedly demonstrated throughout the tragedy that illuminates the literary work as a whole. Darkness and malfeasance play an important role through the intentions taken by a majority of the characters including Macbeth, his wife and the witches who portray immoral intuitions and outcomes. Shakespeare's often use of darkness frequently sets the scene on a dark and stormy night. During the 17th Century, he was highly fascinated with the way fate changed the course of peoples lives and the endless consequences that would supervene. Shakespeare opens up the literary work with three witches conjuring on thunder and opening …show more content…

Lady Macbeth screws Macbeth's courage when she demonstrates that he no longer is a man when he is too coward to go through with the plot to murder Duncan. Lady Macbeth asserts that if her husband were a true man, he would have already had Duncan murdered at that exact moment, and if he was morally certain that his plot was truly great, it would make him an even greater man (Shakespeare I.vii. 55-59.) Demonstrated in a more feministic way, Lady Macbeth's famous soliloquy shows the empowerment of her masculinity., "Come you spirits, / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of dearest cruelty"(Shakespeare I.v.30-34). She focuses solely on becoming a more manly stature to administer the power to perdure the plot of murder. Masculine identity during 17th Century Shakespeare was held in great desire and influence. Men were leaders and obtained all power and authority; however, Macbeth's cowardliness to kill Duncan opens a pathway for Lady Macbeth to intervene on behalf of Macbeth's unorthodox behavior, contradicting the role of a man in

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