Imagery in Macbeth Essay - 669 Words

Imagery in Macbeth Shakespeares powerful imagery has never been more apparent than in Macbeth. He begins the play with a startling image of three witches chanting in a furious thunderstorm, Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air (1.1.10-11). The eerie chanting creates a dark, mysterious tone that leaves the reader feeling uncomfortable and expecting odd and evil things to happen. Later, when Macbeth and Banquo come across the three weird sisters, the underlying evil creeps back up when Macbeth says, So foul and fair a day I have not seen, and Banquo comments, What are these So withered, and so wild in their attire, That look not like the inhabitants o th earth†¦show more content†¦He clearly is not comfortable and the tone is somber and depressing. Lady Macbeth does not seem to share her husbands anxiety, but it continues to show when he says, How ist with me that every noise appalls me?...Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine (2.3.57,59-61). The image of him on his knees agonizing over his actions strikes hard and clear and the tone is one of remorse and a wishing for a chance to change the past. The act ends with a feeling of uneasiness as Malcolm and Donalbain leave the country, and Ross and Macduff converse about the old kings death and the crowning of Macbeth. Macduff says, Well, may you see things well done there. Adieu, Lest our old robes sit easier than our new! (2.4.37-38). The image of concern for the future and the implied uneasiness hints that not all is well in Scotland. The somber, remorseful, and uneasy tones are effective in sending the reader on an emotional roller coaster with the characters and changing the readers feelings from about each character based on how they respond to the tone. For instance, Lady Macbeth becomes the most hated person in the play due to her complete insensitivity and all around disregard for human life. She stands out against a background of subjects mourning their king.Show MoreRelatedMacbeth - Imagery in Macbeth1331 Words   |  6 Pageshe uses many forms of imagery. Imagery, the art of making images, the products of imagination. In the play Macbeth Shakespeare applies the imagery of clothing, darkness and blood. (listed from least to most), Each detail is his imagery, it seems to contain an important symbol of the play. Symbols that the reader must understand if they are to interpret either the passage or the play as a whole. Within the play Macbeth the imagery of clothing portrays that Macbeth is seeking to hide hisRead MoreImagery in Macbeth848 Words   |  4 PagesImagery in Macbeth â€Å"Violence and the bloodshed that results are important symbols in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. 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Macbeth takes place mainly in Scotland and is a play about an ambitious thane, named Macbeth, and hisRead MoreEssay on Images and Imagery in Macbeth939 Words   |  4 PagesImagery in Macbeth      Ã‚  Ã‚   Darkness, disorder, mayhem, fear, guilt, and hypocrisy are all important themes carried throughout William Shakespeares Macbeth by the effective use of imagery in reference to ill-fitting clothing, blood, and light verses dark. Imagery in this play tiptoes its way though every scene to create a malevolent atmosphere of shame and false pretenses.    The contrast between light and dark during Macbeth clearly relates to the conflict between good and