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Role Of Weather In Macbeth

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Role Of Weather In Macbeth
Weather, Evil, and Chaos in Macbeth

“So foul and fair a day I have not seen” (1.3.38) proclaims Macbeth as he unwittingly echoes the Weird Sisters’ incantation from the opening scene of Macbeth. The imagery of foul weather permeates the play, setting the tone and underscoring the unnaturalness of Macbeth’s treacherous behavior. Foul weather symbolizes both evil and the chaos it creates, and the most important function of weather imagery is to link Macbeth with evil and chaos. The connection between foul weather and evil is emphasized from the opening of the play. The stage directions for scene I reads, “Thunder and lightning.” As the witches enter and begin speaking, the connection between evil and weather is established: “When
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