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Darkness In Macbeth Essay

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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…
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

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