Macbeth As A Tragic Hero :: essays research papers

Shakespeare uses many forms of imaging in his plays. Imagery, the art of devising images, the products of imagination. In the play Macbeth Shakespeare applies the imagery of habiliment, unlitness and blood. Each detail in his imagery contains an important symbol of the play. These symbols need to be understood in order to interpret the entire play.Within the play &8216Macbeth&8217 the imagery of vesture portrays that Macbeth is breakking to hide his &8220disgraceful self from his eyes and others. . Shakespeare wants to keep alive the demarcation between the pitiful creature that Macbeth really is and the disguises he assumes to conceal the fact. Macbeth is always represented symbolically as the wearer of robes non belonging to him. He is corroding an undeserved dignity, which is a point well made by the uses of clothing imagery. The description of the purpose of clothing in Macbeth is the fact that these garments are not his. Therefore, Macbeth is uncomfortable in them beca use he is continually conscious of the fact that they do not belong to him. In the following passage, the idea constantly reappears, Macbeth&8217s new honors sit ill upon him, like loose and badly suitable garments, belonging to someone elseNew honors come upon him Like strange garments, stand by not to their mould But with the aid of use (I, iii, 144-145)This passage is clearly demonstrating that Macbeth cannot fit in these garments. They are not meant to and the clothing imagery is therefor effective.The second form of imagery used to add to the atmosphere is the imagery of darkness. Macbeth, a Shakespearean tragedy contains and demonstrates the darkness in a tragedy. In the play, the design of the witches, the guilt in Macbeth&8217s soul and the darkness of the dark establish the atmosphere. All of the remarkable scenes take place at night or in some dark spot, for instance the vision of the dagger, the discharge of Duncan, the murder of Banquo and Lady Macbeth&8217s sleep w alking. Darkness symbolizes many things such as unholy and death in the play. Thus is evident when Macbeth calls on night to come so that he can proceed with Duncan&8217s murder. Macbeth says Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest polecat of hell,That my keen knife see not thee wound makesNor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark (I, v, 51-53) Macbeth calls on thick night to come cloaked in the blackest smoke so that it may not reveal or witness his evil deed and black desires.