Fear Of Darkness In Macbeth

Lauren Murphy Murphy 1
Miss Link
British Literature
10/29/14

Paint It Black: The Ominous Abundance of Darkness in Macbeth

The dark sparks fear in the both the mind and bodies of people varying in age. The phobia traces back to human’s evolutionary past where dark was associated with unseen predators who could possibly cause death. So, fear of the dark is usually not the fear of darkness itself, but the possible dangers it conceals. The darkness of the night and soul masks many murderous hazards throughout Macbeth, a tragedy by William Shakespeare. Macbeth, the tragedy’s protagonist, spirals down a destructive and insane state of mind after devising and committing the murder of King Duncan. …show more content…
The morning after King Duncan’s demise Lennox reflects on the night, he states "The night has been unruly, Where we lay, Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, Lamentings heard'i th' air, strange screams of death, And prophesying with accents terrible Of dire combustion and confused events New hatched to th' woeful time: the onscure bird Clamored the livelong night. Some say, the earth was feverous and did shake.”(2.3.53-59). Lennox reveals that when a murder occurs nature goes haywire. The winds were strong, strange weeping and screams of death was heard in said wind. The night was foreshadowing death in the castle. Darkness is being connected to inexplicable wickedness. The fire being blown out of the chimney displays the darkness of human nature taking over the goodness in the night, Macbeth representing the darkness and King Duncan representing the goodness. Ross and the Old Man also talk after King Duncan’s demise. Ross says to the Old Man, “by the clock, 'tis day, / And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp" (2.4.6-7), Ross is speculating as to why the morning is unusually dark. The “traveling lamp” …show more content…
After King Duncan is murdered mutiple disturbing occurences transpire. In the morning after the murder, Lennox comments on the night, he states "The night has been unruly, Where we lay, Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, Lamentings heard'i th' air, strange screams of death, And prophesying with accents terribleOf dire combustion and confused events New hatched to th' woeful time: the onscure bird Clamored the livelong night. Some say, the earth was feverous and did shake.”(2.3.53-59). The wind coming from the dark of the night blowing out the fire in the chimney is a symbolism of dark conquering the light. Macbeth is depicting as the dark and King Ducan is illistrated at the light. Ross also reflects on the night, he says to the Old Man, "by the clock, 'tis day, / And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp" (2.4.6-7). Ross is stating that the morning is dark and contrary to the time of day, for the "travelling lamp" has been strangled by the dark night. This is yet another representation of dark overcoming light. But the tides turn when Macduff goes to England to converse with Malcolm about Macbeth's terrible ruling over Scotland. Macbeth creates a nation that is deprived of light or as Malcolm describes it as shrouded by darkness. Macbeth is clearly the force of darkness throughout the play, he is described by Malcom as a

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