Darkness in Macbeth Essay - 581 Words

A.C. Bradley wrote that about Macbeth: â€Å"darkness, we may even say blackness, broods over this tragedy... all the scenes which at once recur to memory take place either at night or in some dark spot.† The Tragedy of Macbeth contains many instances where darkness is represented and portrayed whether it occurs at night or the actions. Many actions that were completed by Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and the prophecies told by the witches, all have corrupt intentions or outcomes. Shakespeare often will use darkness which frequently sets the mood of a dark and stormy night which usually depicts that evil things are about to come. There are at least three examples of this in Macbeth. The night has been unruly: where we lay,/Our chimneys were blown†¦show more content†¦And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp. (Act 2 scene 4 line 7) is a metaphor for both the murder of Duncan and the night in which it occured. A dark and stormy image is also portrayed when the characters meet. The Tragedy of Macbeth is based upon witchcraft and evil. Double, double, toil and trouble;/Fire burn and cauldron bubble. (Act 4 scene 1 line 10-11), How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags! (Act 4 scene 1 line 48), Lady Macbeth Come, you spirits/That tend on mortal thoughts! unsex me here,/And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full/Of direst cruelty; make thick my blood,/Stop up the access and passage to remorse,/That no compunctious visitings of nature/Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between/ Th’ effect! (Act 1 scene 5 line 39-46), or Macbeth Let not light see my black and deep desires;/The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be/Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. (Act 1 scene 4 line 51-53). Shakespeare makes it clear that certain circumstances such as Duncan’s horses eating each other Tis said they ate each other. (Act 2 scene 4 line 19) and the owl killing the falcon A falcon,...Was by a mousing owl hawk’d at and killâ€⠄¢d (Act 2 scene 4 line 13-14). The Witches go hand- in- hand as an important role in â€Å"Macbeth†. Judging from the prologue we can tell that they are up to no good. Fair is foul, and foul is fair: (Act 1 scene 1 line 11). You can not tell how evil the witches are untilShow MoreRelatedMacbeth : Lightness And Darkness988 Words   |  4 PagesMuratovic Mr. Tice Honors English 2 6 March 2017 Macbeth Essay: Lightness and Darkness Is the lightness and darkness combination, implemented by Shakespeare in the play The Tragedy of Macbeth, foreshadowing Macbeth’s downfall? As many can identify conspicuous examples of light and darkness through characterization, the play has many hidden foreshadowing signifiers. 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