Theme Of Darkness In Macbeth

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Faculty of Humanities

Department of English language and literature

Diploma paper research

Theme of darkness in Macbeth

Mentor: Student:

Doc.dr Edina Špago- Ćumurija Elma Lulić

Abstract

Macbeth is a famous play written by William Shakespeare. Theme of darkness appears through the whole play. The aim of this study is to show in which way the plot of the play is connected with the darkness and how the main events are reflected in nature.

To find the answer to this question it was necessary to read Harold Blooms critique on Shakespeare plays with the focus on Macbeth itself.

Result show that Macbeth is night piece. Darkness has domination over the characters and the plot itself.

The murders that are seen occur at night which makes us realize that the most horrible crimes are committed in the darkness.

The study shows that since Macbeth is a tragedy theme of darkness is suitable to take place in the play which evaluates the plot with such horrible crimes.

INTRODUCTION

This paper will begin by outlining the darkness in Macbeth. Darkness is often associated with evil, crime and death. The murders that are seen occur during the night which makes us realize that the darkness has influence on characters. This tragedy is full of the examples that describe the use of night and dark imagery to show the darker side of humans. Darkness also plays a vital role in development of the plot as well as the characters. It is a definitive indication that evil will occur, and it plays a crucial role in foreshadowing evil.

Theme of darkness in Macbeth

Shakespeare’s use of night and darkness to show the evil forces of nature is witnessed at the beginning of the play in the appearance of the Three Witches. When the Witches are performing their charms, storm or the darkness of the cave accompanies them. They are followed by rough storms in dark condition.

Thunder and light. Enter the Three Witches. (Shakespeare,1994; 27)

The three Witches represent darkness, chaos and their role is agents of evil. They are opposites of nature, they are women but they have man’s beard. Their charms are Black Mass, and for their soup they use parts of animals and human body. Shakespeare introduced an image of dark clouds suggested in the words used by the First Witch:

When shall we three meet again?

In thunder, lightning, or in rain? (Shakespeare,1994; 27)

The three Witches wait for Macbeth and Banquo. They salute Macbeth:

FIRST WITCH: All hail Macbeth, hail to thee Thane of

Glamis,

SECOND WITCH: All hail Macbeth, hail to thee Thane of

Cawdor,

THIRD WITCH: All hail Macbeth that shalt be King

hereafter. ( Shakespeare,1994; 29)

Witches do not directly advice Macbeth to kill King Duncan, they use a subtle form of temptation when they inform Macbeth that he is destined to be king, by placing this thought in his mind, they guide him on the path to his own destruction. Banquo foreshadows the terrible events to come with an allusion to the witches as " instruments of darkness" that sometimes speak the truth in order to bring their listeners to ruin.

In his analysis of the images of darkness in Macbeth, Shakespearean scholar A.C Bradley writes: "It is remarkable that almost all the scenes which at once recur to memory take place either at night or in some dark spot. The vision of the dagger, the murder of Duncan, the murder of Banquo, the sleep-walking of Lady Macbeth, all come in night-scenes. The Witches dance in the thick air of a storm, or, 'black and midnight hags,' receive Macbeth in a cavern. The blackness of night is to the hero a thing of fear, even of horror; and that which he feels becomes the spirit of the play". (Bradley, 1905; 333)

Macbeth describes the atmosphere of the midnight when witches are performing their rituals. It is the time when people who are sleeping have nightmares. He alludes the fact that without Nature in a right state of mind, evil threatens sleep.

During the conversation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth after the Duncan’s murder Lady Macbeth makes mention of "the owl that shriek’d and the crickets’ cry".( Shakespeare, 1994; 46)

"The owl clamours all through the night; Duncan's horses devour each other in frenzy; the dawn comes, but no light with it. Common sights and sounds, the crying of crickets, the croak of the raven, the light thickening after sunset, the homecoming of the rooks, are all ominous".( Bradley, 1905;337).

In Act II, Scene IV, Ross and Old man speak of the unusual darkness of the day. Furthermore, Ross provides an image of an owl and a falcon. The disorder in Nature is symbolized by the slaying of the falcon, the royal bird, by an owl. Darkness is used to illustrate the unnatural character of Macbeth’s crime in killing the king which was considered at that time to be crime against God and nature. Macbeth becomes a king but Weird Sisters said Banquo’s children shall be kings. When Banquo informs Macbeth that he will return during the night darkness is used as a symbol of danger. During the night before Banquo’s murder Macbeth meets with murders in a dark area within his castle. They speak of killing, which in all senses is evil. The darkness crearly provides Macbeth with the tools to commit the crime and sway the murders decision. To Macbeth, the darkness will hide all evil.

Come, seeling night,

Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day,

And with thy bloody and invisible hand

Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond

Which keeps me pale! Light thickens, and the crow

Makes wing to the rooky wood:

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,

Whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse. ( Shakespeare, 1994; 63)

According to the Harold Bloom Macbeth is a night piece. From "noble" in Act I Macbeth become " untitled tyrant bloody sceptered" in Act V. Scotland under the rule of Macbeth is described as " shrouded in darkness" by Malcom in Act IV. In Act V, Scene I, Lady Macbeth is tormented by the dark hour when she is found to be sleepwalking. Lady Macbeth states that " Hell is murky", which refers to the darkness of the place of torment that she speaks.( Bradley,1905;395).

By mentioning hell, it is assumed that darkness shadow creates an identical impression in her mind which later leads her to suicide. She carries a candle to get away from darkness." The failure of nature in Lady Macbeth is marked by her fear of darkness" ( Bradley,1905;396).

Conclusion

In Macbeth William Shakespeare used darkness and evil as a dominant themes because it captives the audience and provides an intriguing setting for the play. Dark images helped convey to the audience the atmosphere and illustrate the characters in Macbeth. Using dark images Shakespeare created the atmosphere of uncertainty and ambiguity which is the main theme of the play.

Literature

Shakespeare, William, Macbeth, London, Penguin Popular Classics, 1994.

Bradley, A.C., Shakespearean tragedy; Lecture on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, 2nd edition, London, Macmillan, 1905.

Khan, Shahab Yar, O Å ekspirovim tragedijama ( Volume1), Sarajevo, Dobra knjiga, 2008.

Bloom, Harold, Shakespeare the Invention of the Human, Riverhead, 1999.