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Imagery in Macbeth Essay submitted by Unknown In his plays, Shakespeare uses
many forms of imagery. Many forms of his imagery are used in his play 'Macbeth,'
including the forms of clothing and darkness. Each detail in his imagery, it
seems to me, contains an important symbol of the play, and symbols that we must
understand if we are to understand either the passage it is in, or the play as a
whole. In 'Macbeth' I think that the imagery of clothing is used to suggest that
throughout the play, Macbeth is seeking to hide his disgraceful self from his
eyes and from others. I think that Shakespeare wants to keep alive the ironical
contrast between the wretched creature that Macbeth really is and the disguises
he assumes to conceal the fact. Secondly, I think that in the play honours are
thought of as garments to be worn; likewise, Macbeth is constantly represented
symbolically as the wearer of robes not belonging to him.
He is wearing an
undeserved dignity. A crucial point in describing the purpose of clothing in
'Macbeth' is the fact that these are not his garments. Therefore, Macbeth is
uncomfortable in them because he is continually conscious of the fact that they
do not belong to him. In the following passage, the idea constantly recurs that
Macbeth's new honours sit ill upon him, like a loose and badly fitting garment,
belonging to someone else: New honours come upon him, Like our strange garments,
cleave not to their mould, But with the aid of use. (1.3.144) The second, most
important chain of imagery used to add to the atmosphere is that of the imagery
of darkness. In a Shakespearean tragedy a special tone, or atmosphere must be
created to show the darkness and blackness in a tragedy.
In Macbeth, Shakespeare
uses the design of the witches, the guilt in Macbeth's soul, and the darkness of
the night to establish the atmosphere. All of the remarkable scenes take place
at night or in some dark spot; for instance, the vision of the dagger, the
murder of Duncan, the murder of Banquo, and Lady Macbeth's sleep-walking, all
occur at night. Darkness is the time when the traveller hastens to reach safety
in his inn, when Banquo rides homeward to meet his assassins; furthermore, it is
the time when the wolf howls, the owl screams, and when murder steals forth to
his work. In 'Macbeth' I think the darkness symbolizes many things.
First, and
most importantly, it stands for the evil and death in the play. The darkness
could partially blind out all of the horrible things that occur in the night.
For, only in darkness can such evil deeds be done. Secondly, the darkness shows
one of Lady Macbeth's weaknesses: her fear of the dark. In the play, phrases of
fear escape from her lips even in sleep. She believes darkness to be the place
of torment. In the whole drama, the sun seems to shine only twice. First, in the
beautiful but ironical passage when Duncan sees the swallows flirting round the
castle of death. Next, when at the close the avenging army gathers to rid the
earth of its shame. Therefore; I can conclude that darkness is used to establish
the evil parts of the play; whereas, daylight is used to establish victory or
goodness in a play.
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