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Macbeth: Imagery
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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