Charlotte Coekin 07/03/2007
'Fair is foul and foul is fair' - this line evokes a world
upside down, the reversal of natural order. What is the connection between the
natural imagery Shakespeare uses and the events in the play?
Macbeth was first published in 1623 and is one of Shakespeare's shortest plays. Although the story is set in a specific historical period and place, the themes are of universal interest and relevance, themes such as ambition, loyalty, treachery, conscience, deceit, unnaturalness, the struggles between good and evil, innocence and obligation and what is ultimately valuable in human life. Imagery is an important element in all of Shakespeare's plays giving the texture of the plays, density and richness. Some images can be used to striking effect individually however, in Macbeth certain images are woven throughout the play and help to connect, reinforce and enliven the play as a whole. One such image is that of nature and the reversal of what is natural. It is possible to show how Shakespeare connects this image to events within the play. In scene 1 of Macbeth the theme of the reversal of natural order is introduced with the line 'fair is foul and foul is fair.'
In any good play the dramatist will always aim to create vivid characters that his/her audience will remember. One of the ways that Shakespeare achieves this aim is to associate a character or event with certain imagery. In Macbeth Shakespeare uses this technique to great effect. For example, the witches and the supernatural are very closely associated with adverse weather such that whenever they are present the scene directions read 'thunder and lightening'. Not only does this add to the dramatic impact of their entrance but it also allows the audience to come to a fuller understanding the character. In the case of the witches, their association with bad weather suggests a negative and destructive presence and would have been particularly significant in Shakespearean times when it was generally accepted that witches were real and out to cause trouble. James I for whom Shakespeare wrote this play in addition had a unique obsession with the supernatural.
Scene 1 of Macbeth also begins with the line 'When shall we three meet again. In thunder, lightening or in rain?' Not only does Shakespeare use this line as a means of evoking atmosphere through Pathetic fallacy, but again he connects with his Shakespearean audience by immediately introducing the implication that the witches are not only associated with bad weather but they actually control the weather - which at the time was thought to be a common trait of the supernatural. This instantly adds depth to the characters and plot of the play before any events have even occurred.
As well as using scene directions and associated imagery, Shakespeare also uses the weather as a means of evoking atmosphere through the use of Pathetic Fallacy. Scene 1 ends with the line 'Hover through the fog and filthy air'. In this quotation, the fog is clearly used to reflect the mood of the scene. It suggests confusion, lack of clarity and things hidden or out of sight. Shakespeare uses this technique once more on the night of Duncan's murder when the weather was described to have been 'rough' and 'unruly' to such an extent that Lennox exclaims that ...
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As well as using scene directions and associated imagery, Shakespeare also uses the weather as a means of evoking atmosphere through the use of Pathetic Fallacy. Scene 1 ends with the line 'Hover through the fog and filthy air'. In this quotation, the fog is clearly used to reflect the mood of the scene. It suggests confusion, lack of clarity and things hidden or out of sight. Shakespeare uses this technique once more on the night of Duncan's murder when the weather was described to have been 'rough' and 'unruly' to such an extent that Lennox exclaims that he 'cannot parallel a fellow to it'. Not only does this reflect the Pathetic Fallacy being used but it also signify's natures revolt against the unnatural deed that Macbeth has committed. Perhaps the extraordinary turbulence of the weather also indicates the enormity of Macbeths deed - not only has he corrupted natural order in killing an innocent man but he has also corrupted order in murdering a man who was held at the time to have been directly appointed by God.
Looking at the language used in this scene we can see Shakespeare using not only the events of the play to create atmosphere but also his use of words. For example, Shakespeare describes the wind to have 'prophesied with accents terrible' and 'screamed' death. Here we see Shakespeare giving the storm a human form; of course the wind was not really prophesying but by using the metaphor he adds emphasis to the fact that nature reflects the deeds of humanity and in this case, the unnatural deeds of Macbeth.
However, the weather is not the only natural imagery used in Macbeth. In Act 1 scene 4 we see Duncan declare 'I have begun to plant thee [Banquo] and will labour to make thee full of growing'. This metaphor is especially powerful because it reflects good natural order. King Duncan, who throughout the play is seen as the epitome of good natural order, is likened to the fruitfulness of nature. Banquo then goes on to continue the metaphor of growing by saying 'there if I grow the harvest is your own' and so thanking the king for his compliment and aligning himself with good royal order and justice. This imagery of growing however is used in stark contrast in the case of Macbeth when he himself declares that upon his head the witches placed 'a fruitless crown and a barren sceptre in my gripe'. Hence the natural order of growth and fruitfulness is reversed. This imagery is used to great effect to show the distinction between what is natural and good and what is unnatural and is also used to highlight the fact that unless something is naturally gained, it does not carry any of the associated blessing or prosperity.
The theme of the reversal of natural order is also powerfully illustrated in the events surrounding the witches' second apparition: 'Macbeth shall never be vanquished until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him'. Ironically, Macbeth puts his steadfast trust in the permanence of natural order i.e. that the wood will never move and hence believes he is safe from harm. Shakespeare uses a bit of comic relief at this point. The unlikely and somewhat ridiculous events of Macduff's army advancing behind the branches of the Birnam wood trees is amusing, however as is so often the case with Shakespeare there deeper levels of significance to the apparently light-hearted events surrounding Birnam wood. While throughout the play so far Macbeth has acted unnaturally and this has been reflected in natural imagery, here we see Macbeth putting his trust in nature and nature becoming unnatural i.e. the reversal of natural order. In reality of course, the wood doesn't move and nature remains consistent but the trickery makes it apparent that the trees move and hence the witches prophesy remains correct. However, this use of natural imagery and the reversal of it is one of the most significant throughout the whole of Macbeth and is used to highlight the corruption of Macbeth and illustrate the final overthrow of the unnatural.
Another key theme in Shakespeare's use of natural imagery is his use of animals to reflect the events in the play. In act 1 scene 5, Lady Macbeth begins her infamous soliloquy with the line 'the raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of King Duncan'. In Shakespeare's time the raven was traditionally closely associated with death and yet we see here that it is hoarse - unable to warn Duncan of his approaching death
The night of Duncan's death we again see that it is not only the weather that has gone awry but the animal kingdom as well. Perhaps most significant of all, we see Duncan's horses turn wild and eat one another. This reflects nature's destruction of itself. Just as man is killing man, so the horses are also killing one another. The shocking nature of this event helps the audience to see how vulgar and unnatural murder is while at the same time also emphasising nature's revolt against the unnatural deeds of Macbeth.
In the same scene we also see an old man declare 'Tis unnatural, even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last, a Falcon towering in her pride of place was by a mousing owl hawked at, and killed.' Here we very clearly see the reversal of natural order. While the mousing owl should have contented himself with merely hunting mice, instead attacks a falcon. This again mirrors Macbeth in that while he should have been subservient to King Duncan he instead kills him. This shows very powerfully the reversal of what is natural and good and helps emphasise this to the audience through the use of imagery and repetition.
As shown in the above, it is clear that the theme of 'natural order' is absolutely key throughout Macbeth. From the natural order of kingship to unnatural horses eating one another, Shakespeare consistently twists what appears natural to create a thrilling and enthralling plot. However, while weather and growth and animals are natural images, there is still very little that can compare with the fundamental need of all living things to reproduce and the powerful natural image that this creates. Shakespeare links this image to the events prior to the murder of Duncan. As part of her final decent into depravity Lady Macbeth prays to the powers of evil, to rid herself of all her natural feminine instincts. 'Unsex me here' she cries. Here we see her begging that what makes her womanly be taken away in order that she might kill Duncan without feeling guilt. However, she doesn't stop here. She goes on; 'come to my breasts and take my milk for gall'. Again, she completely denies all that is natural and good so that while it would have been considered right and natural that women should give birth and tenderly nurture their children, particularly during Shakespearean times when women were considered to be exclusively for that purpose, she prays that rather than producing nutritious milk, she produce bile. This also links in with the fact that because killing Duncan i.e. regicide would be such an enormous breach of natural order, Lady Macbeth needs to rid herself of all her natural instincts in order to carry out such an unnatural deed.
Finally, immediately prior to Duncan's death Lady Macbeth, while persuading Macbeth to do the deed, describes how though she knows how tender 'tis to love the babe that milks her - she would, while it was smiling in her face, have plucked her nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out. Not only is Shakespeare's use of language incredibly stark but his inclusion of an innocent baby only puts emphasis on how depraved Lady Macbeth has become. It also appears to parallel Duncan's death in that while he should be able to trust Lady Macbeth as his hostess, just as a child should be able to trust his mother, she betrays that trust completely by brutally murdering him. This quote also carries with it the implication that like a babe, Duncan is pure and innocent.
We also see strong connections between fertility and what is natural in the witches' third apparition. In this scene the three weird sisters assure Macbeth that 'no man born of woman' would ever harm him. As with the events of Birnam wood, Macbeth puts his trust in natural order i.e. he trusts that all men are born of woman and hence that no man can harm him but again, as soon as he trusts what is natural, natural order is reversed. Macduff, while still born of a woman was 'from his mother's womb untimely ripped' i.e. born by caesarean section. In both cases it is clear that there is a distortion of what is natural in that while nature remains constant, Macbeth's perception of it is twisted. There is dramatic irony here, in that in the end Macbeth's defeat stems directly from his blind trust in nature.
'Unnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles'. This is a quote taken from Act five scene 1 in which Lady Macbeth is found talking in her sleep. Here disease and ill health are linked to the events following Duncan's death.
In Shakespearean times there would have been a firmly held connection between ill health and wrong doings. One area that Shakespeare explores in Macbeth is that of sleep and the connection between innocence and sleep. While returning after murdering king Duncan Macbeth claims to have heard voice cry ''Sleep no more' Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep'. From this point onwards he finds it very difficult to sleep. Hence Shakespeare makes a connection between his guilty conscience and his inability to rest. This theme is developed still further in the case of Lady Macbeth who in contrast to her husband has a disturbance of sleep. In act five the doctor describes her sleep walking as 'a great perturbation of nature' and a 'disease beyond my practise'. In the end her disturbed sleep becomes her undoing and a means through which her evil is unfettered and her secrets revealed. It also holds a very definitive contrast to the natural rejuvenating benefits of sleep. Shakespeare uses this theme of sleep primarily as a means of engaging with the views of his audience but also as a way to emphasise the reversal of what is natural through the corruption of natural order.
In conclusion, it is very clear that the reversal of that which is natural is a central theme in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Shakespeare explores this by connecting natural imagery with events in the play. This occurs at many levels; through the actual events of the play, through Shakespeare's use of language and through scene directions. Not only does it add dramatic impact but it also helps the audience to gain a greater understanding of the characters and events in the play.
