Darkness in Macbeth In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare uses many images of darkness throughout the play for multiple purposes. The setting of the play is in Scotland during the 11th Century which also represents darkness. In England the people in this era thought that the night air was contaminated and evilness was liberated since the sky contained no sunlight. Shakespeare uses dark imagery to make a strange and ominous atmosphere. It also changes the audience’s emotions by creating emotional reactions. Additionally, it is used to develop the characters and show how they transform. One example of dark imagery is at the beginning of the play when we are introduced to the Three Witches. "Fair is fowl and fowl is fair: Hover through the fog and
…show more content…
For example when Duncan and Macbeth are talking Macbeth says "Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires". This gives people horrific mental images about the murders which arouses their emotions. When Ross is talking to an old man he states "By the clock `tis day, and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp”. Ross is saying that the sun should be out but something is blocking the light. This example creates an unnatural feeling in the readers because it is very abnormal for the sun to be blocked. This might make the audience think that the devil is the cause of this which would also make the reader have creepy feelings. Another example of dark imagery happens when Lady Macbeth and a messenger are talking. "That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark to cry, "Hold, hold!". This creates an image of terror because of the …show more content…
Macbeth becomes mad after the three warnings he receives from the witch sisters. One example of his madness is when he says to his wife "Still it cried "Sleep no more" to all the house; " Glamis has murdered sleep , and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more ; Macbeth shall sleep no more". This explains a dream that he had at night which means his conscience is driving him crazy. Shakespeare shows the readers how Macbeth is changing and becoming dark. He is about to lose it when while with his friends, he sees the ghost of Banquo. He says while staring at the Ghost, "Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me". When he is trying to sit down to enjoy dinner, he sees Banquo’s ghost in his seat. He thinks it’s a trick to show that Macbeth committed murder when ironically they have no idea what he is talking about. This is another example of Shakespeare using dark images to show the characterization of
For example when Duncan and Macbeth are talking Macbeth says "Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires". This gives people horrific mental images about the murders which arouses their emotions. When Ross is talking to an old man he states "By the clock `tis day, and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp”. Ross is saying that the sun should be out but something is blocking the light. This example creates an unnatural feeling in the readers because it is very abnormal for the sun to be blocked. This might make the audience think that the devil is the cause of this which would also make the reader have creepy feelings. Another example of dark imagery happens when Lady Macbeth and a messenger are talking. "That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark to cry, "Hold, hold!". This creates an image of terror because of the …show more content…
Macbeth becomes mad after the three warnings he receives from the witch sisters. One example of his madness is when he says to his wife "Still it cried "Sleep no more" to all the house; " Glamis has murdered sleep , and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more ; Macbeth shall sleep no more". This explains a dream that he had at night which means his conscience is driving him crazy. Shakespeare shows the readers how Macbeth is changing and becoming dark. He is about to lose it when while with his friends, he sees the ghost of Banquo. He says while staring at the Ghost, "Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me". When he is trying to sit down to enjoy dinner, he sees Banquo’s ghost in his seat. He thinks it’s a trick to show that Macbeth committed murder when ironically they have no idea what he is talking about. This is another example of Shakespeare using dark images to show the characterization of