They meet in foul weather and talk of "thunder, lightning" and "the fog and filthy air", giving the audience a first impression that Macbeth is a dark, dangerous play in which the theme of evil is central. Only once in the play are the three weird sisters called 'witches', instead they are called "old hags" and "elemental forces". Shakespeare describes the witches in this way to make them sound more evil so that the audience would dislike them more. Shakespeare used the witches and supernatural influences to present evil scenes and events. As witches were hated at the time that Shakespeare wrote the play, he used the witc... ... middle of paper ... ...h after Guy Fawks' attempt to kill King James I in 1605.
In line 45, the witches, when they hear Macbeth knocking, say ‘Something wicked this way comes’. This is ironic as the witches, who are evil are calling Macbeth evil. This shows that Macbeth is the most evil character in the play. In line fifty and onwards, Macbeth is... ... middle of paper ... ... he is so insecure. The witches do reassure him with the information that ‘none of woman birth shall harm Macbeth’ but this is not as straightforward as Macbeth thinks because of Macduff’s Caesarean Section.
The following three paragraphs will further discuss these topics. The first example of Shakespeare’s use of night and darkness in the appearances of the three witches. The witch sisters are the main sources of evil within the play MacBeth. When the witches are in an act, storms or the darkness of the woods always accompanies them. This shows great evilness. "
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.
Three witches start the villainy in Macbeth’s heart by addressing him as “thane of Cawdor” and “king hereafter.” (Act I, Scene 3, 50-51) Those few words plant the seeds of debauchery that will take the lives of Duncan the King, Banquo his fellow warrior, and the ultimate demise of his wife Lady Macbeth. The peripety occurs with each of these malicious acts during this tragedy. Macbeth knew that Duncan was a good king and fought the urge to kill him, but surrendered to his wife’s verbal lashing and committed the crime. The killing of Banquo was easier to decide, but thoroughly directed his mind on the downward spiral to a collapse of all reason. His mind hit the floor of despair when his wife commits suicide.
This imagery clearly shows the darkness in the play as the witches recur throughout it. One more main recurring image is one of a blanket of darkness that appears to "entomb" the Earth "when living light should kiss it." But, just as darkness is associated with evil, light is linked with good. We s... ... middle of paper ... ...scalating evil such as when Malcolm finally confronts Macbeth and calls him a "hell hound." On the other hand, the audience is aware of the images of grace and virtue which are seen in Duncan and Edward.
In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, symbolism is abundantly used in exemplifying the overall theme of murder. There are several prominent forms of this throughout the play. The contrast of light and dark representing good and evil plays a major role in the advancement of events in the lay. Blood symbolizes murder and guilt. The archetypal pattern of purification by water is used several times in the play, particularly in the murder scenes.
Hamlet forgives Gertrude of her deeds too, for after Claudius poisons her, Hamlet takes revenge upon him in the name of both his father and his mother, "Then, venom, to thy / work... // Drink off this potion. Is (thy union) here? / Follow my mother" (Hamlet, IV, ii, 352-353 and 357). After this violent act, his comment that Gertrude is a "wretched queen" (Hamlet, IV, ii, 365) implies that she should be pitied, not despised. There is no malice towards women in Hamlet, he just is overwhelmed by the deception that he faces.
In conclusion, to a sympathetic extent, we can feel pity for Macbeth. His fatal flaw was exploited by the witches who toy with his mind, when Macbeth thought he was merely fulfilling his fate, and Lady Macbeth's manipulation. However we also remember that his ambition was more important than other people's lives; the murder of his best friend Banquo, Lady Macduff and Macduff's son, and even the suicidal death of Lady Macbeth, which he seemed not to care about. However describing Macbeth as a “dead butcher” isn't a fair summary of his character. His downfall was more emotional than this, if we remember the loyal soldier Macbeth was to begin with.
This being the case, in the play Macbeth, Shakespeare puts forth the idea that by betraying others one is in turn betraying themselves. Shakespeare proves this by showing that at the conclusion of every murder Macbeth commits, he gradually declines on the ladder of respect and nobility. Macbeth starts off as a noble and respected leader. He is kind and a brave fighter. But after three witches give him a prophecy, he starts to betray other characters and becomes an evil malicious man.