Macbeth, believed to be premiered on April of 1611, is based on true events regarding the King of Scotland. Macbeth can be traced to Holinshed’s Chronicles, which historically elaborates on Scotland, Ireland, and England. However, much of the play is contrasted from the real King Macbeth. William Shakespeare created the play Macbeth with a rich tapestry of contrasting imagery of light and darkness. Light is indicative of life, truth, and good. Darkness correlates to evil and death. The dialogue of the characters and their literary traits depict the sharp contrast between darkness and light throughout the play of Macbeth. Ultimately, individual characters are associated with light or darkness. King Duncan, Macbeth, and Banquo mostly associate
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In Act 1, Scene 4, Duncan states that “Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter / The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must / Not unaccompanied invest him only, / But signs of nobleness, like stars shall shine / On all deservers. From hence to Inverness, / And bind us further to you.” In this particular quote, Duncan says that he will give praise to individuals with duty and virtue. With these good qualities in mind, the individual is going to shine like a star as light is portrayed as good. In the same scene, Macbeth’s oblivion upon these good values is seen in another quotation. Macbeth says, “On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, / For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires;”. In this particular quote, light embodies honesty and goodness. Macbeth does not want his good side to hinder his determinations. Macbeth’s moral well-being cautions him not to murder the King, but his ambition of becoming King interferes with his morality and becomes stronger. Ultimately, Macbeth is fully persuaded not only by himself but also by Lady Macbeth’s powerful influence over him to commit the evil act of murdering King Duncan. Lady Macbeth’s persuasion for Macbeth to kill King Duncan causes the goodness or “light” inside Macbeth to dissolve, thus …show more content…
The murderers reference dark and light imagery. When the first murderer says “The west glimmers with some streaks of day? ” he is trying to emphasize the small portion of light upon saying “the west yet glimmers. Once the evil and dark imminence of the murder becomes prevalent, evil and darkness will outstrip the good and light. When the third murderer says, “Who did strike out the light? ” he makes a representation between the light and Banquo’s torch, which metaphorically signifies his life. When the light strikes out, Banquo is killed, and the torch goes out, which causes darkness as evil triumphs over Banquo. Light and darkness remain prevalent and influential toward the end of Macbeth. In the first scene of Act Five, Lady Macbeth deteriorates. The Gentlewoman says, “She has light by her continually; ’tis her command.” She elaborates on Lady Macbeth’s desire to have light by her side. Before the final events leading to the closing of the play, Lady Macbeth wished for evil and darkness to assist her intentions. Towards the end, darkness and evil terrify her. Lady Macbeth now understands the magnitude of committing the murder of King Duncan. She transitions into a state of remorse and
In Act 1, Scene 4, Duncan states that “Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter / The Prince of Cumberland; which honor must / Not unaccompanied invest him only, / But signs of nobleness, like stars shall shine / On all deservers. From hence to Inverness, / And bind us further to you.” In this particular quote, Duncan says that he will give praise to individuals with duty and virtue. With these good qualities in mind, the individual is going to shine like a star as light is portrayed as good. In the same scene, Macbeth’s oblivion upon these good values is seen in another quotation. Macbeth says, “On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, / For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires;”. In this particular quote, light embodies honesty and goodness. Macbeth does not want his good side to hinder his determinations. Macbeth’s moral well-being cautions him not to murder the King, but his ambition of becoming King interferes with his morality and becomes stronger. Ultimately, Macbeth is fully persuaded not only by himself but also by Lady Macbeth’s powerful influence over him to commit the evil act of murdering King Duncan. Lady Macbeth’s persuasion for Macbeth to kill King Duncan causes the goodness or “light” inside Macbeth to dissolve, thus …show more content…
The murderers reference dark and light imagery. When the first murderer says “The west glimmers with some streaks of day? ” he is trying to emphasize the small portion of light upon saying “the west yet glimmers. Once the evil and dark imminence of the murder becomes prevalent, evil and darkness will outstrip the good and light. When the third murderer says, “Who did strike out the light? ” he makes a representation between the light and Banquo’s torch, which metaphorically signifies his life. When the light strikes out, Banquo is killed, and the torch goes out, which causes darkness as evil triumphs over Banquo. Light and darkness remain prevalent and influential toward the end of Macbeth. In the first scene of Act Five, Lady Macbeth deteriorates. The Gentlewoman says, “She has light by her continually; ’tis her command.” She elaborates on Lady Macbeth’s desire to have light by her side. Before the final events leading to the closing of the play, Lady Macbeth wished for evil and darkness to assist her intentions. Towards the end, darkness and evil terrify her. Lady Macbeth now understands the magnitude of committing the murder of King Duncan. She transitions into a state of remorse and