Macbeth Essay Exam

        There are other symbols used in Shakespeare’s Macbeth that weren’t as obvious or used often. These symbols consist of light & dark and the sun. I chose these to symbols because they are not that noticeable as the other symbols. The sun symbolism is probably one of the hardest to recognize. Light and dark represent good and evil in the play.  During the time in which Macbeth was written, the king was associated with the sun.  The sunset symbolized his death or overthrow.  The quotes "When shall we three meet again. . . ", and "That will be ere the set of sun." (I. i. 1, 4) foreshadow the king's
death.  The imagery of light and dark continues throughout the play. "Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires."  (I. iv. 50-51) demonstrates Macbeth's step toward evil. Most of the corrupt or unusual events in Macbeth occur under a cloak of darkness. The murders, Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking, and the appearance of the witches all take place at night. Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking scene is the epitome of the light/darkness symbol.  She once craved the darkness but now carries a candle to dispel it.  The line, "She has light by her continually; 'tis her command." (V. i. 19), symbolizes Lady Macbeth's fear of darkness or evil.

        Hallucinations and the three witches were motifs in the play Macbeth. Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help develop and inform the text’s major themes. Hallucinations were a motif because they helped develop the main theme of ambition and power of suggestion. One of the hallucinations in Macbeth was a hallucination of a dagger covered in blood. The quote and meaning was already mentioned earlier in the essay. This shows how his conscious and his inner thoughts really are ambitious because he wants to kill Duncan so that he will become king. Seeing the dagger is also motif to power of suggestion because it makes Macbeth feel persuaded to doing it because he feels as if it’s already going to happen and he cannot do anything about it. Macbeth also sees Bonquo’s ghost sitting at his table. His friends think that he is not feeling well and Macbeth does not realize that he is seeing Bonquo’s ghost. He later on notices that it is Bonquo’s ghost and he says: “Avaunt! And quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes which thou dost glare with.” (III, iv, 45) He does not let this get in his way which shows his ambition. Lady Macbeth also hallucinates, she hallucinates blood on her hands. She goes a little wild but then over comes the hallucinations and tried to not let it go to her head. Basically guilt is a motif because it shows the ambition of the characters when they over come the feeling. The three witches in the play are really big motifs. They are the ones who fuel everyone and everything to begin the whole plot of ambition, murder, and betrayal. They are the ones who tell Macbeth the prophecy which he then tells Lady Macbeth about and she fuels Macbeth ambition even further. They have power of suggestion with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

        Power of suggestion and ambition were the themes of Macbeth because that is what everything was being revolved around. Lady Macbeth has a lot of power of suggestion with Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is first introduced in Act 1 Scene 5: reading a letter sent from Macbeth describing the encounter with the Witches, and the prophecies which they given him. Lady Macbeth is very ambitious; believes that Macbeth is too kind and loyal to take the steps needed to become king. Lady Macbeth uses the weaknesses of Macbeth to convince him to kill King Duncan: she challenges his manhood "When you durst do it, then you were a man." (I, vii, 17) At the beginning of the play, Macbeth was portrayed as a courageous soldier who fought for his King without mercy, until the witches planted the seeds of greater things and Lady Macbeth fuelled his ambitions, which lead him to become greedy and power hungry. . The witches predicted, at the beginning of the play, that Macbeth would soon become the Thane of Cawdor and eventually the outright King. They tell Macbeth this, simply to ignite what would finally end up being a burning desire for success. Lady Macbeth then helps Macbeth by inserting ill thoughts into his mind, and provided suggestions as to how to become King. At first, Macbeth rejects the horror in his mind but eventually he succumbs to evil for his ambition is far too great.

        In conclusion, Symbolism plays an important role in Shakespear's Macbeth. It is used to relate the overall theme of ambition and power of suggestion. Light and darkness represents good and evil. Blood represents Macbeth's and his wife's guilt about Duncan's murder. Water symbolizes purification of the conscience. Hallucinations and the witches were some main motifs used in this play. Ambition and power of suggestion led Macbeth to a road of murder, betrayal, and horror. Many people died and Lady Macbeth and Macbeth could not sleep for it. They should have been able to be more strong willed and been good people then they might of had a better ending.