How Does Shakespeare Use Darkness In Macbeth

Use of Night and Darkness in Macbeth

Darkness was often associated with evil and crime in the play Macbeth. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, description of darkness had symbolic significance. The murders that were seen frequently occur at night time. This makes the reader conclude that the most horrible crimes are committed in darkness. The play Macbeth was abundant with examples that describe the use of night and darkness to show evil and happenings that are immoral. Darkness also played a vital role in the development of the plot and the characters. Shakespeare’s use of night and darkness to show the evil forces of nature was first witnessed in the appearance of the three witches. The witch sisters are the main source of evil within the play of Macbeth. When the witches are performing their charms, storm or the darkness of the woods always accompanies them:
"Thunder and lightning, Enter three witches." This is how the three witches are introduced. This shows their
The witches were described as, "dark as midnight"; Macbeth was described as "devilish and dark"; and Scotland was described as "dying". The imagery of darkness also plays an important role in character development. Macbeth, in Act 1, was presented as a man of great stature, as the champion of his country as being full of “the milk of human kindness”. He was described as "noble" and "loyal". But once the crime was committed, his human feelings were destroyed. Macbeth becomes an agent of disorder and chaos. He was described by the witches as "dark", "devilish”, “black Macbeth” and “tyrant”. This same character development was true of Scotland. In Act 1, Scotland was described as the land of light; but under the rule of Macbeth, it turns out to be “shrouded in darkness”. It was filled with “sighs, and groans, and shrieks that rent the air”. It becomes the land of evil such as “dark” and