For instance, a literal meaning of his metaphor "let not light see my black and deep desires" would be that Macbeth wants there to be darkness so his dark personal secrets will not be exposed to the world around him. ... With the stars not giving out their light all in the world would be dark. Macbeth prays for this for the sake that no one may see the dark, deep, and true secrets Macbeth holds, not even himself. ... The opposition between light and dark shows the two sides of Macbeth; His naive, kind-hearted side but also his ambitious, greedy side. ... He even tries to talk himself...

• Word Count: 1146
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Darkness is a conduit of evil. ... The dark appearances, thunder, and lightning all emphasize the witch's destructive nature. ... Macbeth calls on darkness to fall in order to conceal the murder to follow. ... Blood, darkness, and clothing imagery present Macbeth's downfall in vivid accounts. ... He expects to earn respect and power, but instead he gains deep agony in his heart. ...

• Word Count: 854
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

At the beginning, Macbeth is not driven to do evil until he takes the witches' ramblings to heart. ... Macbeth uses imagery of darkness to show that good prevails over evil. ... Darkness symbolizes evil as opposed to light symbolizing good. ... Darkness and evil go away once peace is restored in the kingdom. ... Macbeth and Lady Macbeth seem to achieve what their hearts desire, but in reality they only gain torment and death. ...

• Word Count: 2016
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

The play symbolises the differences between light and dark The Witches represent the dark powers that have the capacity to influence men's decisions, but, more importantly, they are an outward representation of Macbeth's inner evil. Having said this, the brooding and mystifying darkness itself is a recurring motif in the drama and, like the Witches; it symbolizes the darkness in Macbeth's heart and the evil nature of his horrible deeds. ... There are other scenes of dramatic tension including: • the dagger (act 2 scene 1) • the ghost of Banquo (act 3 scene 4) Sh...

• Word Count: 1149
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

These phrases show that Macbeth, at point, is human and that there is uncertainty in his heart. However, as his character becomes increasingly sinister, Macbeth takes actions to remove those in his way, like Banquo, and "the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand," not caring who he harms and how he harms them. ... Banquo replies to Macbeth's question "oftentimes, to win us to our harm," the tools "of darkness tell us truths." ... [T] The motif of darkness also helps illustrate the theme of Macbeth. ...

• Word Count: 2918
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

He not prepared for her rage when he announces his change of heart. ... On the night of the murder Lady Macbeth wanted it to be dark, 'come thick night' so that the darkness would cover up her evil deed. ... Now Lady Macbeth is completely overwhelmed by her evil deeds and is scared of the dark, 'she has light by her continually.' ...

• Word Count: 731
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

But he has a deep desire inside his heart. ... The witches, like in most other situations, are used to symolise "the intruments of darkness" and evil spirits. ... After listening to the prophecies, the seed of evil is planted in his heart, and he could not stop thinking about them. ... While the witches appeal to Macbeth's dark side, Banquo is set as a contrast to the dark Macbeth. ... Throughout the play, the witches appeal and bring out Macbeth's dark sid...

• Word Count: 1847
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

The idea of becoming king originates of his heart but is awakened by the words of three witches. ... His heart is contradictory, he really does not want to be the murderer. ... His heart is occupied by feelings of fear of losing, no matter what , he can't afford to lose the throne. ... All evil deeds come from people's ambition and deep dark desires. ...

• Word Count: 786
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

During the play, he suffers because of his dark secrets and battles his conscience even after his specific desire is reached or accomplished. ... Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heart-oppressed brain? ... All events in this play, take place at night, in a dark environment, or during a storm. This symbolizes the darkness, evil, and confusion that are lurking inside Macbeth's mind. ... As the poison in his mind grows, Macbeth begins to make unbalanced decisions, lose all passion for his wife, and fall deeper into darkness. ...

• Word Count: 1597
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

False face must hide what the false heart doth know." ... , this is how Macbeth's journey into inevitable darkness began, when he was led to believe that since some of the witches predictions have some true then he might be destined to fulfill the rest. ... But Upon heavy persuasion from someone whom he cared deeply about, he was lost forever in a swirling pool of cruel thoughts, blinded by the wishes and suggestions of others and entered evils dark domain. ...

• Word Count: 735
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Evil Macbeth EVIL MACBETH Darkness in our society is indicative of evil. For instance, a black cat, a dark night, a dark place are all symbols of evil. ... This play represents the evil and the darkness but on the other hand it also represents good and justice. ... For the first time in the story, we see a dark side to the brave and courageous Macbeth. ...

• Word Count: 12917
• Approx Pages: 52
• Grade Level: High School

Then, Macbeth uses dark imagery such as "ere to black Hecate's summons The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums, Hath rung night's yawning peal" (45-47), and "[c]ome seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day" (51-52)[.] By invoking evil, the dark imagery reveals Macbeth's affinity to darkness as he resolves to have Banquo and Fleance killed. Macbeth calls on night to fall so darkness will hide his horrible deed. ... Macbeth's rhyme displays his affinity to darkness and shows how he is resolute while invoking evil to fulfill his deed. ... ...

• Word Count: 1425
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

"Oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness will tell us truths. ... Thus, filling his heart with hate, and the distortion of reality. "False faces must hide what false hearts doth know."...

• Word Count: 583
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Lady Macbeth is now afraid of the dark because all the crimes that were committed were done in the dark. Her fear of darkness shows the audience that she regrets what she has done and that she knows what she did was wrong. ... He first reveals his thoughts when he says, "If good, why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs / Against the use of nature?" ...

• Word Count: 1010
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

"Fair is foul and foul is fair; Hover through the fog and filthy air"" This quote implies that nothing is that it appears: the natural order of civilization has been turned to one of disorder and darkness. ... Macbeths ambition is deep in his heart and starts growing at that time. ... In Act one, scene four, Macbeth in his aside states that this announcement is a block on his ambition and calls upon darkness to cover what he wishes to be done: "The Prince of Cumberland! ... Charles Dickens once said, "His heart leapt with terror"" while watching Macbeth. ...

• Word Count: 1547
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Macbeth may be physically strong and a fierce fighter but he has a very weak heart and can not make sound decisions. ... Macbeth's weakness is shown in lines 133-136 where he states, "If good, why do I yield to that suggestion, whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seared heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature?" ... Macbeth's weakness is shown in lines 133-136 where he states, "If good, why do I yield to that suggestion, whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seared heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature?" ... The second aside in scene four ...

• Word Count: 1090
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Macbeth has a change of heart before he reaches home until his wife persuades him that it can be done safely. ... She prays to the powers of darkness to make her become less feminine when she says 'unsex me here' so that she can have no natural feelings of pity and carry out the procedure selfishly. ... She acts like a woman with a warm heart and charm. ... In Shakespearean times it have been said that he was the victim of the powers of darkness such when Lady Macbeth thought up the powers of evil and pr...

• Word Count: 2124
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

The BBC used red and yellows which I thought showed royalty where as the RSC was all dark with barely any colour, at first you would think it was black and white. ... I prefered this compared to the dark colours in the RSC. ... Macbeth began by saying, "At first and last, the hearty welcome" and then Lady Macbeth said, "My heart speaks, they are all welcome" I think they wanted everything to go well as Macbeth has just become King, but they are maybe trying too hard. ...

• Word Count: 1255
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The sarcastic tone reveals the dominating personality of Lady Macbeth, which is significant in influencing Macbeth during later part of the play to succumb to darkness of treachery and bloodshed. ... Hence, the reader can indicate the instrumental role that Lady Macbeth is going to play in the build up of darkness later on. ... Here underlies the truth to her character, she inherits a change of heart resulting in indisputable evidence that Lady Macbeth is a dynamic character. ...

• Word Count: 1026
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In act 1, scene 4, line 50, Macbeth declared: "Stars hide your fires, let not light see my deep and dark desires." ... Aye, and wisely too, for it would have angered any heart alive to hear the men deny it." ...

• Word Count: 666
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Also, the witches and apparitions lurk like dark temptations of evil, and contribute to the atmosphere of deceit in Macbeth's crimes. ... Duncan's kind-hearted feelings towards Macbeth, shields him from the truth. ...

• Word Count: 654
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

His ambitions are raised when he recalls the prophecy in which he would become King of Scotland, and immediately thinks of murdering King Duncan: I am Thane of Cawdor: / If good, why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs (I, iii, 133-136) At this moment Macbeth's evil and dark side is shown. ...

• Word Count: 885
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

She allies herself with the powers of darkness for his sake, but here inherent(congenital) femininity beraks down under the strain of the unnatural murder of Duncan and the alienation of her husband. ... Does she really despise Macbeth when she argues him of wearing "a heart so white"? ...

• Word Count: 885
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Examples of imagery include Lady Macbeth's advice to Macbeth, "look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't" and Macbeth's words, "False face must hide what the false heart doth know." In Act III, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that they are, "Unsafe the while that we Must have our honours in these flattering streams, And make our faces wizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are." ... (Act II) In the following scene Ross tells the Old Man of the strange upset in Nature, "...by the clock 'tis day And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp (that is, the su...

• Word Count: 1123
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

This had changed Macbeth from an exceedingly loyal and dedicated general of Duncan, to a gory and vicious, non-merciful murderer with a heart full of evil and hatred. ... It was completely his fault and because of his dark and evil intentions being so full of greed and power, he has now messed up his life along with friends he used to love, treasure, and cherish. ... The witches, out of pure evil and darkness, had told Macbeth that he would be Thane and that Banquo's children would also be Thane some day. ...

• Word Count: 1443
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School