Darkness In Macbeth Essay
The Macbeth Essay In Macbeth, an aura of darkness, deception, and horror can be seen throughout the play and is evoked by the imagery set within. There are four dominant themes of imagery in this play: darkness, blood, nature, and the supernatural. All these forms of imagery contribute to the atmosphere in the tragedy of this play. The use of darkness in the imagery of this tragedy has a great affect on the atmosphere and the impression set on the audience. Darkness portrays mystery, calmness, and sometimes even death. It also helps create suspense and interest in the audience. Under the cover of darkness with everyone asleep Macbeth kills the king, Duncan. The atmosphere would be very dark, quiet, and still. Macbeth would sneak into the
…show more content…
king’s room and kill him. This adds to the atmosphere of the play by creating a setting in which a murder would most likely occur – under the “cover” of darkness Macbeth is able to kill Duncan without raising any awareness of his act. (2.2 10-15) Another instance in which darkness plays an important role was during the murder of Banquo. Darkness conceals the murderers, and later creates horror, mystery, and suspense. Complete darkness over takes the scene when the only source of light, a burning torch held by Banquo’s son, is dropped. (3.3 7, 14, 19-21) With the darkness comes the death of Duncan. His son, who symbolizes the last hope, manages to get away when his father is murdered. The darkness sets an atmosphere of lost hope and a realization of a coming murder. The lit torch that was held by the son and his survival in this scene still leaves a trace of hope. The darkness in the atmosphere makes greater the visual experience of the audience.
Throughout the play the presence of blood is very abundant. From the very beginning where Macbeth is in battle, he stabs and slices a man in two with his sword. (1.2 7-22) Also, throughout the play the blood of Duncan stains the hands of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. (2.2 58-64) By the end, Lady Macbeth dies due to the blood of the king, Duncan, being on her conscience. (5.1 26-31) Macbeth later also dies – he is killed by Macduff – getting his head cut off. (5.1 54-59) Blood is portrayed in battle, murder, and conscience throughout the play. It gives the audience a sense of reality and a gruesome visual experience of the occurrences that happen during the play. It makes the atmosphere more believable, by creating a realistic scene. More than so, it evokes many feelings in the audience such as fear, sadness, and hatred. The feelings that are brought out from the audience by the happenings in the play created a stronger and more effective atmosphere in the play – absorbing the audience into the tragedy and creating great suspense. Nature has a crucial affect on the atmosphere of the play as well.
Many of the occurrences within the play are somehow equally symbolized by the actions of nature. One of the very first effects of nature in the play that is seen is at the very beginning where the witches gather, making a prophecy. The lightning, thunder, and fog surrounds the witches as they are standing, gathered together making Macbeths prophecy. Later, come the sounds of a cat, a toad, and a spirit calling the witches. (1.1 1-2, 9-11) Through the affects of nature the scene is transformed into an eerie and frightful place. It makes the audience wonder what is to happen and it helps introduce an atmosphere of a tragedy to come. During the murder of Duncan, nature adds onto the atmosphere of the scene. Storms come with raging winds, cries of grief filled the air, screams of death, strange voices, the hoot of the owl, and the shaking of the earth contrived the peace of the night on which Duncan was being murdered. (2.3 28-35) The affects on the atmosphere caused by the acts of nature make it clear that murder is in the air. As screams fill the air it is as if the atmosphere it self was experiencing death, just as Duncan was. His death influenced nature as well as the audience creating an atmosphere of murder, making the tragedy more intense and
suspenseful. Many different supernatural things happen during the course of this tragedy. One of the very first crucial supernatural evens is when the witches appear to Macbeth and Banquo, and they tell them their prophecies. (1.3 49-51) These prophecies are another basis which sets the course of the play and the atmosphere. Later on the witches come again to make a prophecy to Macbeth. They call upon spirits, and apparitions appear to Macbeth telling him of his eternal glory and reign that can not be lost to any man born of a woman, as well as, that he will not lose power or die until the Great Birnam Wood moves to High Dunsane Hill. (4.1 73-74, 81-83, 94-98) Supernatural existence and unnatural possibilities fill the atmosphere, creating fear and suspense. Witches and magic, during this time period were feared and usually killed. The appearance of such figures and acts in the tragedy, create a type of fear or horror in the atmosphere that the audience can easily relate to – making it that much more intense. The aura of darkness, deception, and horror envelops this whole play by the use of imagery. The images of darkness, blood, nature, and the supernatural dominate this play adding onto the atmosphere of the tragedy. Darkness increases the suspense, horror, and creates a feeling of lost hope. Blood can be seen throughout the whole play, it adds realism, horror, and suspense to the atmosphere of the play. Nature acts in different ways depending on what is happening. By symbolizing the happenings in the play, nature creates great emphasis on the atmosphere. The presence of supernatural occurrences creates even more horror and fear in the atmosphere of this tragedy. Many different feelings are evoked from the audience by the use of imagery in this play. These reactions add on to the atmosphere of the play, contributing to its suspense and horror. The atmosphere well symbolizes the aura in which it took place. The imagery contributions to the play give the audience a realistic, and fearful experience.
king’s room and kill him. This adds to the atmosphere of the play by creating a setting in which a murder would most likely occur – under the “cover” of darkness Macbeth is able to kill Duncan without raising any awareness of his act. (2.2 10-15) Another instance in which darkness plays an important role was during the murder of Banquo. Darkness conceals the murderers, and later creates horror, mystery, and suspense. Complete darkness over takes the scene when the only source of light, a burning torch held by Banquo’s son, is dropped. (3.3 7, 14, 19-21) With the darkness comes the death of Duncan. His son, who symbolizes the last hope, manages to get away when his father is murdered. The darkness sets an atmosphere of lost hope and a realization of a coming murder. The lit torch that was held by the son and his survival in this scene still leaves a trace of hope. The darkness in the atmosphere makes greater the visual experience of the audience.
Throughout the play the presence of blood is very abundant. From the very beginning where Macbeth is in battle, he stabs and slices a man in two with his sword. (1.2 7-22) Also, throughout the play the blood of Duncan stains the hands of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. (2.2 58-64) By the end, Lady Macbeth dies due to the blood of the king, Duncan, being on her conscience. (5.1 26-31) Macbeth later also dies – he is killed by Macduff – getting his head cut off. (5.1 54-59) Blood is portrayed in battle, murder, and conscience throughout the play. It gives the audience a sense of reality and a gruesome visual experience of the occurrences that happen during the play. It makes the atmosphere more believable, by creating a realistic scene. More than so, it evokes many feelings in the audience such as fear, sadness, and hatred. The feelings that are brought out from the audience by the happenings in the play created a stronger and more effective atmosphere in the play – absorbing the audience into the tragedy and creating great suspense. Nature has a crucial affect on the atmosphere of the play as well.
Many of the occurrences within the play are somehow equally symbolized by the actions of nature. One of the very first effects of nature in the play that is seen is at the very beginning where the witches gather, making a prophecy. The lightning, thunder, and fog surrounds the witches as they are standing, gathered together making Macbeths prophecy. Later, come the sounds of a cat, a toad, and a spirit calling the witches. (1.1 1-2, 9-11) Through the affects of nature the scene is transformed into an eerie and frightful place. It makes the audience wonder what is to happen and it helps introduce an atmosphere of a tragedy to come. During the murder of Duncan, nature adds onto the atmosphere of the scene. Storms come with raging winds, cries of grief filled the air, screams of death, strange voices, the hoot of the owl, and the shaking of the earth contrived the peace of the night on which Duncan was being murdered. (2.3 28-35) The affects on the atmosphere caused by the acts of nature make it clear that murder is in the air. As screams fill the air it is as if the atmosphere it self was experiencing death, just as Duncan was. His death influenced nature as well as the audience creating an atmosphere of murder, making the tragedy more intense and
suspenseful. Many different supernatural things happen during the course of this tragedy. One of the very first crucial supernatural evens is when the witches appear to Macbeth and Banquo, and they tell them their prophecies. (1.3 49-51) These prophecies are another basis which sets the course of the play and the atmosphere. Later on the witches come again to make a prophecy to Macbeth. They call upon spirits, and apparitions appear to Macbeth telling him of his eternal glory and reign that can not be lost to any man born of a woman, as well as, that he will not lose power or die until the Great Birnam Wood moves to High Dunsane Hill. (4.1 73-74, 81-83, 94-98) Supernatural existence and unnatural possibilities fill the atmosphere, creating fear and suspense. Witches and magic, during this time period were feared and usually killed. The appearance of such figures and acts in the tragedy, create a type of fear or horror in the atmosphere that the audience can easily relate to – making it that much more intense. The aura of darkness, deception, and horror envelops this whole play by the use of imagery. The images of darkness, blood, nature, and the supernatural dominate this play adding onto the atmosphere of the tragedy. Darkness increases the suspense, horror, and creates a feeling of lost hope. Blood can be seen throughout the whole play, it adds realism, horror, and suspense to the atmosphere of the play. Nature acts in different ways depending on what is happening. By symbolizing the happenings in the play, nature creates great emphasis on the atmosphere. The presence of supernatural occurrences creates even more horror and fear in the atmosphere of this tragedy. Many different feelings are evoked from the audience by the use of imagery in this play. These reactions add on to the atmosphere of the play, contributing to its suspense and horror. The atmosphere well symbolizes the aura in which it took place. The imagery contributions to the play give the audience a realistic, and fearful experience.