Symbolism Symbols In Macbeth

Improved Essays
Symbol
Example from story
Importance
Act 1: Nature
“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it.”- Lady Macbeth (Act 1 scene 5 line 72-73)
“The air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle sense.” - King Duncan (Act 1, Scene 6, Line 1-2)
“... heaven’s breath smells wooingly here.” - Banquo (Act 1, Scene 6, Line 6-7)

All of these lines compare Macbeth to something in nature. Lady Macbeth’s line says that Macbeth needs to look like a flower but really be a snake deep down. She is saying he needs to look as sweet and innocent as a flower but truely be a snake. The lines from the King and Banquo are talking about Macbeth’s castle. How peaceful and lovely it is. This is symbolism of how Macbeth appears. He looks sweet like a flower and his castle looks inviting. He is innocent and is uncomfortable with the idea of killing the king. Lady Macbeth tries to convince him and it works.
Act 2: Sleep
“‘Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep’” -Macbeth (Act
…show more content…
What the apparitions say to Macbeth is as important as what the apparitions are. The first apparition was an armed head (scene 1 stage direction) the head is a symbol of how Macbeth has fallen from who he was. He was a powerful warrior and could have been “Bellona’s bridegroom” but when the witches tell him about his future he fall from who he was. He becomes prideful and ruthless. The second apparition was a bloody child (scene 1 stage direction), this is also a symbol of Macbeth’s loss of innocence. He has killed the man he used to be. The third apparition was a child holding a tree (scene 1 stage direction), this apparition is different from the other ones. This is a symbol of foreshadowing. Malcolm, the son of King Duncan, tells his army to arm themselves with branches for camouflage as his army approaches Macbeth’s castle. The apparition has shown him how Birnam Wood will move to the castle and who leads the

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    In Macbeth the supernatural is one of the significant subjects in the play. The supernatural mostly leads to the future of the plot and causes a lot of consequences. Furthermore, they affect the character’s actions, thoughts, and normally leads to evil ways. Macbeth talks about a lot of supernatural elements in the story. There are several critical supernatural elements in Act 4, such as the apparitions which talk to Macbeth about his future.…

    • 1202 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Things Aren’t Always What They Seem Though every thing has some sort of appearance, which can be either right or wrong, bad or good. However, sometimes things aren't what they appeared to be, their appearance can be misleading, which can lead us to make assumptions of this particular thing or someone. In Macbeth\ by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare reveals the theme of things aren’t always what they seem. The theme is revealed because of Macbeth’s back stabbing towards King Duncan, which indicated that Macbeth wasn't really who he appeared to be.…

    • 1089 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When people think of children what do they think of? Do they think of the smiles and the laughter, or do they think of the screaming and crying. The opinions on types of children vary from people with their own experiences. In the Tragedy of Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, certain aspects of children are lingered throughout the story. The use of children is not the most prominent throughout Macbeth, but is the most known if the reader chooses to dig for the clues and examples.…

    • 872 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Banquo's Role In Macbeth

    • 1031 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Banquo first asks where Forres is, and in meeting the three witches, he says they look as if they are from another planet, though, he also thinks they are human due to their responses to his questions. Banquo attempts to calm the witches by claiming they do, in fact, look like women, but fails overall at pacifying them when he says their beards reveal a more masculine feature. Banquo talks about the appearance of the witches and how he thinks they look more manlike. The species of the witches is indefinite, so Banquo first thinks they are from a different planet, then is confused by their “manly” beards.…

    • 1031 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Xun Zi said that, “Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity”. Macbeth displays the tendencies of human nature to be evil as well as the ways in which it attempts to be good. The author and playwright William Shakespeare, also uses character foil to show the extreme differences in morals, ambition, and the tendencies of human nature. The characters Macbeth and Banquo personify the ambiguity of good and evil. They are both portrayed as ambitious men, but as the play progresses only one is consumed by his ambition and the temptations of power.…

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The above symbolises how Macbeth caused his own downfall with how the people are cutting themselves down. In "Macbeth" he cuts himself down by becoming overconfident and letting his guard down after talking to the witches for the second time. The first apparition tells him to fear Macduff; however, he already knew that Macduff would be a problem. The second apparition tells Macbeth something that boosts his confidence ," Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth." ( Macbeth 4.4.…

    • 149 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1. Banquo: “A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,/And yet I would not sleep” (2.1.8-9). 2. I’m exhausted but I cannot sleep.…

    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Spell of Ambition It could be argued that love and ambition are essential to achieve one's desires. However, how far can one go? In this essay I will analyze the role of ambition in the relationship between the two epic protagonists, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth.…

    • 1746 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In this excerpt from Act 3 of William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, Macbeth addresses the idea that “We have scorched the snake, not kill’d it” (15). The snake is an image of Duncan, who has only been wounded, not killed yet. Using animalistic and life-after-death imagery, implicit diction, and figurative language, Shakespeare reveals Macbeth’s confused and worried mind, caused by killing Duncan and the repercussions that could come after the killings. In the beginning of the passage, Macbeth addresses his fear that Malcolm and Donalbain will heal from their father’s death and his malicious act of killing Duncan will cause Malcolm to use his “tooth” (17) to poison Macbeth.…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Lady Macbeth Quote Quotes

    • 1439 Words
    • 6 Pages

    13) "I have given suck, and know/How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:/ I would, while it was smiling in my face,/ Have plucked...had I so sworn as you Have done to this." (I,vii,62-67) This quote was spoken by Lady Macbeth to Macbeth when speaking about their plans to murder King Duncan. This quote really helps characterize Lady Macbeth as a ruthless character. Not only is she completely fine with having another human being murdered, she is also starting to get agitated at the fact that Macbeth seems to be getting cold feet about the plan.…

    • 1439 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    At this point, Act 3, scene 3, in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, Macbeth has just been given news that his plan went awry. After obtaining the throne, Macbeth attempts to murder Banquo and his son, Fleance; however, Fleance escaped. Shakespeare’s use of consonance, despondent diction, and symbolism conveys Macbeth’s disappointment towards himself, his plan, and his accomplices in murder. Late in the passage, Macbeth moaned, “But now I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confined, bound” (26).…

    • 474 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Next another symbol of significance is blood. This figure weighs on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth with the killings of Duncan and Banquo. Blood affects the reader by seeing them deal with guilt and how it makes them go insane. Macbeth says “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood, Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather, The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making he green one red”(2.2.60-63)…

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I feel that I have strong loyalties to my friends and family. When it comes to these people, I like to help them make the best decisions. If they are making a decision I believe will be bad for them I try and make sure I tell them that and try to steer them in the right direction. While all these people can be extremely stubborn at times, I still try to help out and be there for them when they need it. I stand up for the people I care about when needed and dislike it when people hurt them.…

    • 857 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Universal Theme In Macbeth

    • 1090 Words
    • 5 Pages

    English Essay- Macbeth Rose Hillard 10A, Mr Zitser Universal themes are communicated to the audience in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth through the use of varying literary techniques and dramatic effects. This essay will look at the timeless nature of themes such as ambition and appearance versus reality in Macbeth, and how their transcendence of human nature contributes to the play’s relevance today.…

    • 1090 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, set in the mid-eleventh century in Scotland and partly in England, the main character Macbeth is v a brave soldier who is loyal to the King. Macbeth is influenced by the witches’ prophecies and the strong ambition of Lady Macbeth. In Macbeth, the witches and Lady Macbeth influence Macbeth regarding his decisions, which ultimately are the leading cause of his downfall. The titles the witches greet Macbeth with spark his ambition to fulfill each new title they give to him.…

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays