Macbeth and Darkness

A detailed Summary of Macbeth and Darkness

As Mabeth and Lady Macbeth pursued their evil plans Shakespeare used more and more imagery of darkness. Especially concerning the murder of Duncan. Dark imagery was used to describe the witches and also Macbeth. Dark imagery was used to describe the weather, and the country. Darkness played a very important role Macbeth.

When the king announced that Malcolm was to be crowned as heir to the throne he said "But sings of nobleness, like stars, shall shine/ On all deservers." (I, iv, 41-42). He is indicating that this nobleness, such that his son has exuded, will be rewarded. Macbeth was noble during the war, and that's why he was awarded Thane of Cawdor. Unfortunately his future plans allow him to receive the title as king unjustly. Macbeth feeling awful, then says "Stars hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires" to kill the king (I, iv, 50-51). He is a good man, and obviously knows it is wrong to have these wishes to kill the king. He has now become burdened with shame. Lady Macbeth is also ashamed. She calls upon night to hide her deed from heaven and from herself: "Come, thick night, / And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, / That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, / Nor heaven peep

In Act 4, completing their curse, the witches are appropriately situated in a dark cave. The dark cave is symbol of evil and even hell. The fact that they are witches alone emphasizes a creepy feeling. The witches are could be for Macbeth's troubles. If they had not toyed with him, he would not have told Lady Macbeth their predictions, and she would not have persuaded him to go through with the murder. Macbeth refers to them as "...secret, black, and midnight hags!" (IV, I, 48).

Shakespeare has used darkness in this play to make a tragedy even more tragic by having its main characters truly experience what it is to be evil and despised.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth desperately wanted to become royalty. But the consequences of their action were literally dark. Macbeth turned into a greedy evil man. He becomes greedy, and stoops to the lowest level to seek revenge. He must kill Banquo just to keep suspicions under raps. He no longer loves his wife, or his country. He is the epitome of darkness. Lady Macbeth is no saint either. She was the one who persuaded Macbeth to kill Duncan, and insulted him for not being a man. But the death has its toll on her too. She becomes very sick, and delusional. Her life becomes so awful that she commits suicide

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 854
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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