What Does Darkness Symbolize In Macbeth

Words: 1489

Pages: 6

Open Document

Darkness has been associated with crime, death, evil and the supernatural for as long as human civilizations have existed. In William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, literal and metaphorical darkness play a significant role. Shakespeare uses images and symbols of light and darkness in Macbeth to contrast between good and evil, hide the evils of the protagonists, and to emphasize drama. The significance of the use of these images is to show that evil temptations are more powerful than light and they need to be combated to prevent them from taking over.

Shakespeare uses light and darkness to represent good and evil. We first see this when King Duncan uses symbols of light to represent good when he appoints his son, Malcolm as his successor. He says, “… signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine / On all deservers” (I. IV. 47-48). Duncan says those who are symbols of nobility will be awarded, because they deserve it. People that are devoted to him will shine like a star. Proving that he recognizes light as a symbol of good. Another example of Shakespeare using dark and light to contrast evil and good is the morning after King Duncan’s murder, when Ross says,
“Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act,
Threatens his bloody stage. By th' clock ’tis day,
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp. …show more content…
The light of the sun is strangled by the darkness of the night because the darkness is stronger than the light. Shakespeare is metaphorically comparing good and evil by using the sun and night, implying that evil is a stronger force than good, and because of that evil takes over the good in people. Shakespeare uses literal and metaphorical symbols of darkness to set the atmosphere of darkness and evil. This emphasizes drama because references to literal and metaphorical darkness make the play more believable for the Elizabethan

English Macbeth Essay

Discuss the Purpose of Symbolism in Macbeth Symbolism is the use of an object in literature to represent or referring to something that’s beyond its definition. Symbolism can be used to add complexity on the character or event to highlight its importance and significance. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Shakespeare uses several symbols to represent, furthermore to highlight the characters’ personalities and characteristics with multiple appearances in the play. Blood is a significant symbol in this play…

Words 1125 - Pages 5

Fear Of Darkness In Macbeth

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…

Words 2248 - Pages 9

Macbeth's Descent Into Darkness Analysis

humanity. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is a tyrant willing to do anything and kill anyone to reach and protect his goal of being the king. However, it is clear throughout the play that these evil deeds take an increasingly large toll on his mind. He begins a descent into darkness that can only result in his inevitable destruction. Shakespeare employs blood and eye/hand imagery to explore the psychological consequences of immorality that devours Macbeth’s sanity. Macbeth starts out…

Words 1304 - Pages 6

Feminism In Macbeth

In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, one of the main characters Lady Macbeth goes through a mental breakdown. This scene carries a great amount of imagery; this stimulated a distasteful series of event. This imagery from Shakespeare creates an emotional reaction because lady Macbeth kills King Duncan. She believes that if she kills Duncan, then Macbeth will become King and she will become queen. Lady Macbeth’s need for power manipulates her husband and even her self to strive for this silly need; she tells…

Words 600 - Pages 3

Beowulf Epic Hero Traits

brutal raids to collect the ivory. The ivory apparently made him totally different. In addition, according to Marlow, Kurtz has become a devil being failure to control his moral feelings. His evil and dirty thoughts have become the embodiment of darkness. Kurtz is the heart of…

Words 1767 - Pages 8

Milk Crate Theatre Analysis

on Stigma” 2). The stigma associated with and mental health was increasingly present during the middle ages. The guilt caused by Macbeth’s recurring image of blood showed his innermost thoughts in the form of hallucination. During the time that Macbeth experienced his psychotic break, witnesses likely criticised him. There was a lack of awareness and an overall notion of disapproval regarding mental illness. The fragility of the human mind, represented by the symbol of sleep, is used to show the…

Words 1687 - Pages 7

Essay on Literary Terms

ex: king duncan is a foil to macbeth 3. analogy the comparison of two pairs who have the same relationship. ex: hot is to cold as fire is to ice 4. Comic Relief comic episodes in a dramatic or literary work that offset serious sections and lighten the mood of the work. ex: the porter scene in Macbeth 5. scene a sequence of continuous action 6. soliloquy the act of speaking ones thoughts aloud without anybody listening 7. Metaphor comparison between two unlike things (does not use like or as)…

Words 795 - Pages 4