Macbeth Essay

Macbeth is a play by the one and only William Shakespeare that includes an array of themes; most of them being dark and ominous. Throughout the play there is an ominous atmosphere created partly by repeated references to blood and darkness. These recurring references to both blood and darkness in Macbeth help Shakespeare convey the dark eeriness of the play to the reader.
      The image of blood is quite common in the play. It foreshadows death, and is a symbol of awaiting tragedy. Macbeth says, “I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er” (247). This quote means that Macbeth is so deep in the river of blood that it is even more difficult to turn around and revert to being a beneficial human being than to continue the path of violent destruction and continuous murder that he is following. He reached the point of no return; he has gone too far to turn back. Macbeth wanders further down a road of malicious intent, and continues killing people in order to keep his seat on the throne. The blood on his hands will linger on his skin forever.
      Darkness is also extremely popular in the play. It represents the coming of evil. Macbeth says, "Light thickens, and the crow makes wing to the rocky wood: Good things of day begin to droop and drowse, whiles night's black agents to their preys do
rouse" (216). This quote is a perfect example of darkness; where a dark and ominous environment is created. This quote is explaining how as the night approaches, all the good begins to rest, while the evil awakens. This quote along with others sets the tone of the story just as something tragically important is about to occur. Throughout most of the play, a dark tone remains present.
      Blood and darkness are two constantly reoccurring images that remain a significant part of Macbeth. Shakespeare uses these two images to create the mood of the play in order to have the reader be a part of it. Living in a world purely of...