Imagery in Macbeth
Imagery in Macbeth
“Fair is foul and foul is fair.”
The Witches, Act 1 Scene 1
I feel that this quote depicts an extremely powerful image of appearance verses reality. The witches are foul but they give fair advice. Macbeth may seem like the nation’s hero and posses all the qualities of kingship, but in reality he is a ruthless, power hungry dictator. As it is the last line of the first scene in the entire play, it is very powerful and sets the idea of foreshadowing events to come in the play. With these words, they are predicting the evil that will cloud Macbeth's judgments.
“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.”
Lady Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 5
Shakespeare uses imagery in a religious context as a metaphor to the creation of life passage in the Bible. Lady Macbeth tells her husband to appear to be an innocent looking fruit that Adam takes from the tree of knowledge and offers to Eve, but actually be the Devil disguised as the snake. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are reasonably innocent at this point of the play. They have a clear conscience and perception of right and wrong. It is made clear by the use of the image of the serpent that they know murdering Duncan is wrong but intend on doing it anyway.
“Is this dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee”
Macbeth, Act 2 Scene 1
I think that this is a significant image in the play as it is where we first see the first signs of the breakdown of Macbeth’s sanity. His hallucinations create an image of his unstableness as the next King of Scotland. His lust for power has turned him into a cold-blooded murderer. Although he doubts whether he should do it or not, his mind convinces him by imagining a dagger which gives him the confidence and reassurance that eventually persuades him to kill Duncan.
By th' clock 'tis day. And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp.
Ross, Act 2 Scene 4
This image of the darkness strangling the light of day
“Fair is foul and foul is fair.”
The Witches, Act 1 Scene 1
I feel that this quote depicts an extremely powerful image of appearance verses reality. The witches are foul but they give fair advice. Macbeth may seem like the nation’s hero and posses all the qualities of kingship, but in reality he is a ruthless, power hungry dictator. As it is the last line of the first scene in the entire play, it is very powerful and sets the idea of foreshadowing events to come in the play. With these words, they are predicting the evil that will cloud Macbeth's judgments.
“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.”
Lady Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 5
Shakespeare uses imagery in a religious context as a metaphor to the creation of life passage in the Bible. Lady Macbeth tells her husband to appear to be an innocent looking fruit that Adam takes from the tree of knowledge and offers to Eve, but actually be the Devil disguised as the snake. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are reasonably innocent at this point of the play. They have a clear conscience and perception of right and wrong. It is made clear by the use of the image of the serpent that they know murdering Duncan is wrong but intend on doing it anyway.
“Is this dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee”
Macbeth, Act 2 Scene 1
I think that this is a significant image in the play as it is where we first see the first signs of the breakdown of Macbeth’s sanity. His hallucinations create an image of his unstableness as the next King of Scotland. His lust for power has turned him into a cold-blooded murderer. Although he doubts whether he should do it or not, his mind convinces him by imagining a dagger which gives him the confidence and reassurance that eventually persuades him to kill Duncan.
By th' clock 'tis day. And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp.
Ross, Act 2 Scene 4
This image of the darkness strangling the light of day