MacBeth

Macbeth Essay

The play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy filled with conspiracy, murder, betrayal and decapitation. Shakespeare uses a wealth of images to create an atmosphere of violence in the play. The plot centers around the ambition of one couple as they plan and carry out the murder of a beloved king and benefactor. Shakespeare uses the images of darkness, nature and the supernatural to enhance the plot twists and turns throughout this tragedy.
To add to the violent atmosphere, imagery of darkness is used. Shakespeare uses the design of the witches, the guilt in Macbeth's soul, and the darkness of the night to establish the atmosphere. Most of the scenes take place at night or in some dark spot; for instance, the vision of the dagger, the murder of Duncan, the murder of Banquo, and Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking, all occur at night. In Act I, scene 3, “The instruments of darkness tell us truths” (Act I scene iii line 124) illustrates the dar...