Macbeth - Images and Imagery :: Macbeth essays

MacbethL Imagery          One of the most important tools in literature is substitution classry.  It is notjust in there to fill up paper rather, there is at least one dramatic purposefor each image and there be many a(prenominal) different types of vision.  This essay seeksto prove that in the play Macbeth the author William Shakespeare uses iniquityimagery for three dramatic purposes.  Those three purposes are, to fashionatmosphere, to arouse the emotions of the audience and to contribute to themajor theme of the play.     The darkness imagery in Macbeth contributes to its ominous atmosphere.  Inthe genuinely beginning of the play the three witches are talking and the first witchsays When shall we three meet again?  In thunder, lightning, or in rain?(Macbeth 1. 1. line 1).  This is a good example of darkness imagery because whenyou think of  the crashing thunder, lightning and rain, they al l remind you ofevil and ominous things.  Later on the Sergeant is talking with Duncan andMalcolm when he states Ship wrecking storms and direful thunders key (1. 2.l26). Again this darkness imagery contributes to the ominous atmosphere of theplay, having reference to thunder and dark storms.  Finally, Lady Macbeth andMacbeth are talking in the scene just out front the murder of Banquo and Macbethsays Light thickens, and the crow makes wing to the rooky wood Good things ofday begin to droop and drowse, whiles nights black agents to their preys dorouse (3. 2. l50-53).  This example of darkness imagery is saying that the dayis turning into night, all the good things are going to sleep, and the evilcreatures are coming out .  The evil in this previous reference point and the twobefore adds to the ominous atmosphere. Since the imagery creates an ominousatmosphere it would then lead to the second dramatic purpose, to arouse theemotions of the audience.  Darkness ima gery is a very good tool for arousingthe emotions of  the audience.  It enables people to create a mental picture ofthe what they are reading.  For instance, in this instance of darkness imageryDuncan and Macbeth were talking when Macbeth says aside Stars, plow your firesLet not light see my black and deep desires (1. 4. l50-51).  When words likedark and desire are put in that context it creates many horrible mentalpictures about murders and fights which arouses peoples emotions. Ross is latertalking with an old man when he states By the clock tis day, and yet darknight strangles the locomotion lamp (2.