Macbeth (Sybolism) Essay, Research Paper
Macbeth
Witchcraft is one of the main aspects of the of the play, Macbeth. To reveal this,
forshadowing is used in the first part of the play. The three witches were predicting the
fate of Macbeth’s and Banquo’s furtures. In addition predicting whether or not that
Macbeth would be king, and that Banquo’s sons may play a part in the vision. Macbeth
would be a fool to believe these wretched hags, they were only pretending to lead him on.
It is hard to believe that Macbeth actually believed the witches in their predictions.
In the middle of the play he felt like all of their predictions had come true. Then the
witches predicted the Banquo’s son, Fleance, could become king. Macbeth had to take
action, because he was destin to be king. Ambitious power and reaching the throne is
more important to Macbeth than a friendship.
The eight kings, which are the future kings of Banquo’s sons, represent how
quickly death can come to one who is at the throne. Some lived briefly, such as King
Duncan, who was murdered by Macbeth. Macbeth was undoubtly obsessed with
becoming king, and with this obsession, he took King Duncan’s life. Lady Macbeth was
just concerned for her husbands success, so she assisted Macbeth in the murder of King
Duncan. She took care of every detail in the king’s murder, but every detail drove her
mad until she took her own life.
Macbeth holding the dagger reveals how brave, ambitious, and determined he was.
He had to be the next to the throne, so he had to prevent any future kings from getting in
his way. This gave him reason to kill his best friend, Banquo, which filled him with guilt
and remorse for this action. He took on all of what was infront of him,
as a king. Then he proves he is human by having a breaking point, at the sight of
Banquo’s ghost.
The skeletons behind the three witches show how all their predictions brought
death. It all most appears as if death is lurking around the three witches, it creeps behind
them and even haunts them. They could also be posed as the ghost of the people that have
been killed in battle by Macbeth, but in skeletal form it gives them a more warlike
appearance.
Blood is known to all of us to represent life, death and often injury. Throughout
the play, the use of blood conveys a theme of death, murder and treason. When Macbeth
sees the dagger floating in the air leading him to Duncan’s room and he sees “on the blade
and dudgeon gouts of blood”, indicating that the knife has been visciously and violently
stabbed into someone. Blood is mentioned often in the play by other characters also, and
most times in reference to murder or treason.
The animals used to portray foreshadowing in the play is greatly important, they
also help with the developement of character and association. Shakespeare uses a cat as a
spirit, as cats are significant to witches. A toad portrays the witches’ ugliness, as
described earlier in the play. This all so shows that even with their ugliness, they do have
foretelling knowledge. The animals used in association with the witches help charaterize
the witches personallity and point of view.
The use of the supernatural in Macbeth results quite well with the respect of the
unknown. Without the witches, the ghost, the visions, and the apparitions, “Macbeth”
would have been a dull and tiresome play. This ancient superstition of spirits enhanced the
play dramatically.