Macbeth;The Portrayal of Darkness and Intrigue
Macbeth is a play that follows the major themes of intrigue, darkness and the supernatural. Following the exploits of a famed general whom is kind at heart, yet as events turn tragic and corruption and Darkness start to take over, it leads Macbeth the protagonist to his downfall and causes for a total change in character, as he gets a grip of power and immense wealth. Darkness is a central motif in Macbeth and outlines and foreshadows several events that will occur and progress the story, thus the idea and emotions provoked by darkness are essential to the plot and causes the play to revolve around the ideals presented, as a whole the embodiment and idea of darkness, intrigue and mischief can …show more content…
“You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes.”(Mac.5.1.40-43) This quote spoken by Lady Macbeth is implemented into the minds of the audience to outline the central idea of intrigue and foreshadow that she will use the cover of night to perform an dark act in which involves driving her knife into the sleeping King Duncan so that her husband can ascend to the throne. Lady Macbeth seems to have problems with darkness and is constantly feeling guilty of the dark acts that she committed or was a main accomplice this can be shown through her speech, “Out, damned spot! out, I say!—One: two: why, then, 'tis time to do 't.—Hell is murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”(Mac.5.1.35-40) This quote alone can outline the whole change in personality that has plagued Lady Macbeth as she is so obsessed mentally and physically with the fact that she is responsible for the death of several nobles including the former king just to get her husband some power and she starts to question if it was worth it which leads to her eventual suicide/death of insanity. Lady Macbeth can be shown as …show more content…
An example of Macbeth’s words creating a vivid image and being used to describe a situation in detail can be seen when talking about his wife’s suicide. “Out, Out Brief Candle.”(Mac.5.5.24) This quote is very short yet it can be used to demonstrate and illustrate how Lady Macbeth’s life and death was short and quick as it compares her death to blowing out a candle which is painless and swift. Darkness seems to follow Macbeth as he is the main protagonist of the story and that can really be adapted to show that he may be the light in the darkness though there could be a element that he is the bringer of darkness and causes unjust harm and misery to those around him. The idea that Macbeth causes unjust harm and darkness on others can be shown when Macbeth hires a group of mercenaries aptly named The Murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. The only reason that Macbeth would kill his once trusted friend and military companion was to show that his kingship was legitimate and that he could not be challenged by anyone and would not stand for any treason even though these were people he once trusted he has turned into an dark tyrant who oppresses his people and friends. Macbeth is constantly followed by and absorbed by darkness whether it be illusions of daggers floating in the sky or the fact that he seems to bring bad deeds with
Macbeth is a play that follows the major themes of intrigue, darkness and the supernatural. Following the exploits of a famed general whom is kind at heart, yet as events turn tragic and corruption and Darkness start to take over, it leads Macbeth the protagonist to his downfall and causes for a total change in character, as he gets a grip of power and immense wealth. Darkness is a central motif in Macbeth and outlines and foreshadows several events that will occur and progress the story, thus the idea and emotions provoked by darkness are essential to the plot and causes the play to revolve around the ideals presented, as a whole the embodiment and idea of darkness, intrigue and mischief can …show more content…
“You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes.”(Mac.5.1.40-43) This quote spoken by Lady Macbeth is implemented into the minds of the audience to outline the central idea of intrigue and foreshadow that she will use the cover of night to perform an dark act in which involves driving her knife into the sleeping King Duncan so that her husband can ascend to the throne. Lady Macbeth seems to have problems with darkness and is constantly feeling guilty of the dark acts that she committed or was a main accomplice this can be shown through her speech, “Out, damned spot! out, I say!—One: two: why, then, 'tis time to do 't.—Hell is murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”(Mac.5.1.35-40) This quote alone can outline the whole change in personality that has plagued Lady Macbeth as she is so obsessed mentally and physically with the fact that she is responsible for the death of several nobles including the former king just to get her husband some power and she starts to question if it was worth it which leads to her eventual suicide/death of insanity. Lady Macbeth can be shown as …show more content…
An example of Macbeth’s words creating a vivid image and being used to describe a situation in detail can be seen when talking about his wife’s suicide. “Out, Out Brief Candle.”(Mac.5.5.24) This quote is very short yet it can be used to demonstrate and illustrate how Lady Macbeth’s life and death was short and quick as it compares her death to blowing out a candle which is painless and swift. Darkness seems to follow Macbeth as he is the main protagonist of the story and that can really be adapted to show that he may be the light in the darkness though there could be a element that he is the bringer of darkness and causes unjust harm and misery to those around him. The idea that Macbeth causes unjust harm and darkness on others can be shown when Macbeth hires a group of mercenaries aptly named The Murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. The only reason that Macbeth would kill his once trusted friend and military companion was to show that his kingship was legitimate and that he could not be challenged by anyone and would not stand for any treason even though these were people he once trusted he has turned into an dark tyrant who oppresses his people and friends. Macbeth is constantly followed by and absorbed by darkness whether it be illusions of daggers floating in the sky or the fact that he seems to bring bad deeds with