Macbeth As A Tragic Hero :: essays research papers

Shakespeare uses many forms of imagery in his plays. Imagery, the art of making images, the products of imagination. In the play Macbeth Shakespeare applies the imagery of costume, darkness and blood. Each spot in his imagery contains an important symbol of the play. These symbols need to be understood in order to interpret the entire play.Within the play &8216Macbeth&8217 the imagery of clothes portrays that Macbeth is seeking to hide his &8220disgraceful self from his eyes and others. . Shakespeare wants to keep alive the contrast between the pitiful creature that Macbeth really is and the disguises he assumes to conceal the fact. Macbeth is constantly represented symbolically as the wearer of robes not belonging to him. He is wearing an undeserved dignity, which is a point well made by the uses of clothing imagery. The description of the inclination of clothing in Macbeth is the fact that these garments are not his. Therefore, Macbeth is uncomfortable in them because he is c ontinually conscious of the fact that they do not belong to him. In the following passage, the idea constantly reappears, Macbeth&8217s new honors sit ill upon him, like loose and badly fitting garments, belonging to someone elseNew honors bob up upon him Like strange garments,Cleave not to their mould But with the aid of use (I, iii, 144-145)This passage is clearly demonstrating that Macbeth cannot fit in these garments. They are not meant to and the clothing imagery is therefor effective.The second form of imagery used to add to the atmosphere is the imagery of darkness. Macbeth, a Shakespearean tragedy contains and demonstrates the darkness in a tragedy. In the play, the design of the witches, the guilt in Macbeth&8217s soul and the darkness of the dark establish the atmosphere. All of the remarkable scenes take place at iniquity or in some dark spot, for instance the vision of the dagger, the murder of Duncan, the murder of Banquo and Lady Macbeth&8217s sleep walking. Darknes s symbolizes many things such as evil and death in the play. Thus is evident when Macbeth calls on night to come so that he can proceed with Duncan&8217s murder. Macbeth says Come, thick night, And fail thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,That my keen knife see not thee wound makesNor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark (I, v, 51-53) Macbeth calls on thick night to come cloaked in the blackest smoke so that it may not reveal or witness his evil deed and black desires.