A dark night and a dark place are both symbolic of diablerie in the play Macbeth. Authors use these symbols to describe an evil character or setting. William Shakespeare employs the imagery of darkness in Act 4 and Act 1 of his play Macbeth to describe the agents of disorder and evil, the witches, Macbeth, and Scotland are all described as dark because they represent the evil.

The witches in the first scene of Act 4 and Act 1 are depicted as agents of evil because of the dark domain around them. The witches meet in a dark cave. The cave is an appropriate setting for the witches because caves tend to represent the under-world and hell, creating a feeling of evil. The witches appearance, "secret, black, and midnight hags" also indicate their evil nature. The witch's dark meeting place and dark appearance all emphasize their destructive nature.

Macbeth in Act 4 consulted with the witches, murdered Macduff's family, and continued to create evil in Scotland. Macbeth in Act 4 is described as an agent of disorder, "untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered". The language in Act 1 that described Macbeth has changed from "noble" and "kind" to the diction of Act 4 which desc

We can also look at what contrast this has on the play. At the begging of the play we see a young brave solider, then transformed into a ruthless killer a 'tyrant'. Another contrast in the play is the use of the word 'Blood'. This has a good side and a bad side. Blood is a sign of violence and revenge. But blood is also a sign of forgiveness via Christ. Relatives are related by blood as well, yet blood can represent guilt. As shown after Macbeth has killed Duncan. Blood can drive you mad with guilt as show with Lady Macbeth. She states "A little water clears us from this deed" Act 2 scene 2. But Lady Macbeth also predicts what might happen to her. "These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad." Later on in the play, Act 5 scene 1 Lady Macbeth does go mad with guilt. "Here the smell of blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this hand." This is an interesting contrast with Lady Macbeth saying only a little water will clear her of her deed. This is also an example of dramatic irony. The other contras in the play also come under the headings natural, being good; and unnatural being evil.

The agents of evil and disorder were symbolized by darkness in Act 4. The witches were described as, "dark as midnight"; Macbeth was described as , "devilish and dark"; and Scotland was described as "dying". The imagery of darkness also plays an important role in character development. Macbeth in Act 1 was an agent of order and thus was described with words such as "noble" and "loyal" but when Macbeth became an agent of disorder he was described with words such as "dark" and "devilish". This same character development is true for Scotland, which in Act 1 was described as the land of light; but in Act 4 when it became the land of evil was described with diction su

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lady Macbeth, God Act, Macbeth Act, King Duncan, Macbeth Scotland, Castle Macbeth, Scotland Act, Nation Miserable, God Act1, William Shakespeare, act 4, lady macbeth, act 1, macbeth act, play macbeth, scene 2, macduff's family, scotland act, evil witches, scotland described, act 3 scene, kill king duncan, scotland act 4, macbeth act 4, lady macbeth actually,
Approximate Word count = 1216
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)