Imagery of Light and Darkness in 'Macbeth'

            Shakespearean literature is often characterised by imagery. William Shakespeare uses this technique in order to give meanings, many of which hidden, to his pieces, as we can see in the play ‘Macbeth’, a perfect example of the English writer’s use of this poetical method. As a matter of fact, in this tragedy we can find many different types of imagery: plant, animal, sleep, clothing and so forth. Each image is usually associated with a human characteristic; the imagery of light and darkness is no exception.

            Being two contrasting elements, their associations are also contrasting. In fact, light is usually related to innocence, truth and purity, while darkness is associated with corruption, cruelty and guilt. In ‘Macbeth’, there are many different references to these two elements, however, each one is connected to certain symbols which may take the form of animals, plants, day, night, etc. Ultimately, light and darkness represent good and evil.

            Already in the first scenes of Act 1, imagery of light is used when King Duncan names Malcolm as his successor and commends Macbeth for his bravery in battle;

“…But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine

On all deservers” (Act 1, Scene 4)

Duncan explains that he will award those who are virtuous and dutiful to him, because they deserve it. Due to these good qualities, namely honour and devotion, the person will shine like a star, since light is seen as good. Macbeth, however, already begins to ignore these values as we can see in the following quotation:

“…Stars, hide your fires!

Let not light see my black and deep desires;”

(Act 1, Scene 4)

In this case, light represents goodness and honesty. Macbeth doesn’t want his moral sense, his pure and good side, to interfere with his inner ambitions. His conscience warns him not to commit the regicide, but Macbeth’s ambition and Lady Macbeth’s powers of persuasion seem stronger, and he is determined to do it. Evil, which are his ‘black and deep desires’, is starting to take control of him.

            Also Lady Macbeth begins to join the ‘bad’ side once she finds out about the witches’ prophecies because she realises that her husband can get to the throne only through ‘dark’ and evil methods. Knowing that her husband is too kind-hearted to commit the treacherous murder, she calls upon evil herself:

“Come, thick night

And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,

That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,

Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,

To cry, ‘Hold, hold!’” (Act 1, Scene 5)

Lady Macbeth wants the power of evil, in the form of the night, to cover her actions. Night time is seen as a period of secrecy and deceit, during which evil can take place almost freely. In addition to this, just like Macbeth, she doesn’t want her conscience to stop her from carrying out her plan.

            After the murder of Duncan, and the proclamation of Macbeth as King of Scotland, there is a change in the atmosphere throughout the court and the country. In Act 2, Scene 4, we hear Ross commenting on the matter:

“…by the clock ‘tis day,

And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp,

Is’t night’s predominance, or the day’s shame,

That darkness does the face of earth entomb,

When living light should kiss it?” (Act 2, Scene 4)

This extract shows how unnatural Duncan’s murder was. As a matter of fact, it has managed to upset nature: a falcon, a strong and powerful bird of prey, is pounced upon by an owl and Duncan’s horses have gone completely wild. The upset and disorder in the animal kingdom reflects the events occurring in the human world. It seems that night has won over day once and for all. Evil has managed to overpower good. Macbeth, in this case evil, has taken the throne of Scotland away from King Duncan, representing good.

            At this stage of the play, there are many references to darkness, since it is an evil period for Scotland. Even good-hearted Banquo becomes part of the dark:

“I must become a borrower of the night

For a dark hour or twain.” (Act 3, Scene 1)

When Banquo said ‘borrower of the night’, he meant that he would come back late. However, it turns out that he actually becomes a creature of the darkness. Once killed, Banquo returns as a ghost who comes back at night to haunt and torment Macbeth for what he has done.

            Macbeth has some doubts just after he sends the murderers to assassinate Banquo;

“Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day,

            And with thy bloody and invisible hand

Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond…”

(Act 3, Scene 2)

The bond that Macbeth is talking about is the one that man has with God, who is the ultimate representation of good. Macbeth has broken this contract, and this naturally torments and troubles him. It ‘keeps me [Macbeth] pale’, facial colour which is usually interpreted as a sign of fear or of illness. However, he calls upon the night, the time and place for evil, to destroy these thoughts of remorse and to fight of his conscience. Macbeth continues with his thoughts:

“ Light thickens, and the crow

Makes wing to the rocky wood;

Good things of day begin to troop and drowse,

Whiles night’s black agents to their preys do rouse.”

(Act 3, Scene 2)

Light becomes ‘thicker’ as it gets darker, since it is harder to see through and understand what is happening. The evil creatures, such as the crow, go about their mischief during the night, while good creatures, sleep during this time. The crow, symbol of evil, searches for the Darkness of the wood. Macbeth is probably referring to the fact that the murders are going out to kill Banquo.

            In the scene in which Banquo is assassinated, there are some other references to light and dark imagery;

“The west glimmers with some streaks of day?”

(Act 3, Scene 3)

It is the First Murderer that asks this question. ‘The west yet glimmers’ signifies that there is still a bit of light, but it is setting. Since a murder is about to take place, something dark and evil, ‘night’ is about to fall. Evil is going to overcome good once again.

            There is a second use of light imagery in the words of the Third Murderer:

“Who did strike out the light?”

(Act 3, Scene 3)

In this case, the light represents the torch held by Banquo, as well as, metaphorically speaking, his life. By striking out the light, Banquo was killed and the torch went out making everything dark. Evil has triumphed against the good-natured Banquo.

            We find another connection with light and darkness towards the end of the play. In Act 5, in the scene of Lady Macbeth’s decline, the Gentlewoman tells us of how her mistress always wants light by her side:

“She has light by her [Lady Macbeth] continually;

‘tis her command”  (Act 5, Scene 1)

Previously, Lady Macbeth wanted the powers of darkness and evil to aid her in her malignant intents, but now she is terrified of those same powers. She is afraid of darkness. She finally understands how terrible a crime it was to murder Duncan and she has gone mad, overcome by guilt and remorse.

            Last, but not least, there is a final use of imagery when Macbeth refers to life as being like a lighted candle:

“And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,

And then is heard no more; it is a tale

Told by and idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing” (Act 5, Scene 5)

            The Lord has just learnt that his wife has died. Nevertheless, he does not seem very moved by the news, and instead begins to talk about how life seems pointless. He realises the futility of all that he has done and explains how meaningless it is all to him. The image of the candle is used to show how vulnerable life is. It does not last for a long time and it is easily blown out. Macbeth learns this at a very high cost: his tragic end.

            Much of this play is filled with the struggle between light and darkness, the epic battle of good versus evil, and the theme is enforced by recurring images. It is, however, the precision of Shakespeare’s’ imagery, which creates clear and vivid mental pictures, that gives his writing its  unique style and quality.

back up