Imagery In Shakespear

’s “Macbeth” Essay, Research Paper

Imagery in Shakespeare Macbeth Authors use many literary techniques and devices to make their workmore interesting. They use what is called word imagery . Word imagery isanother word for a metaphor: a comparison not using like or as . InShakespeare s Macbeth, imagery is very often used. No where inShakespeare s genius for metaphor more apparent than in his use for clothingimagery. In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare uses a great example ofclothing imagery when Ross tells Macbeth that he is the new Thane ofCawdor. Macbeth does not believe him because the Thane of Cawdor wasstill alive and he does not know how this could come about: The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me in Borrowed robes. (I, iii, 109-110) Macbeth is asking why do you put me in the robes of the Thane of Cawdoras if I were he, because I m not. So we see that a new title is like a new , orborrowed in this case, set of clothes. Where another example of clothing imagery is used is when Banquodismisses Macbeth s unusual response to the message that Ross gave him ofDuncan s announcement, naming Macbeth Thane of Cawdor in gratitude ofsaving his kingdom: New honors came upon him, Like our strange garments , cleave not But with the aid of use,… (I, iii,144-146) In this statement, Banquo said that the reason he is acting weird is because,becoming Thane of Cawdor is like a new pair of clothes being worn for thefirst time; it s not too comfortable the first few times worn. So Banquo isstating that Macbeth needs to get more comfortable with the idea of being athane of another territory. Another excellent example of clothing imagery occurs when Macbethtells Lady Macbeth that hi will not go through with the murder of Duncan: I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people Which would be worn now in their newest gloss. (I, vii, 32) When he made the comment about golden opinions , he meant that manypeople in the country look up to him and has good opinions about himbecause he just saved their country. Macbeth said he wanted to bask in theglory of being famous and having all eyes on him, If he killed Duncan, all theattention would be drawn toward the death of the king. Another example of Shakespeare s clothing imagery is when LadyMacbeth responded to her husbands last imagery statement. She is prettyupset that he is going back on his word: Was the hope drunk. Wherein you dress d yourself (I, vii, 35-36) What she meant is that, earlier, he said that he was going to kill Duncan sothat he would become king. Now that he s having second thoughts, she asksif the motivation that flared within him was like a coat you could just take onand off. Shakespeare s use of clothing imagery used in the play Macbeth,shows the genius of his use with words. It helps us have a more realisticimage of Macbeth and the rest of the characters. Shakespeare was, and is, a

world famous writer, he is still famous, even though he has

been dead foraround 300 years. Imagery in Shakespeare Macbeth Authors use many literary techniques and devices to make their workmore interesting. They use what is called word imagery . Word imagery isanother word for a metaphor: a comparison not using like or as . InShakespeare s Macbeth, imagery is very often used. No where inShakespeare s genius for metaphor more apparent than in his use for clothingimagery. In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare uses a great example ofclothing imagery when Ross tells Macbeth that he is the new Thane ofCawdor. Macbeth does not believe him because the Thane of Cawdor wasstill alive and he does not know how this could come about: The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me in Borrowed robes. (I, iii, 109-110) Macbeth is asking why do you put me in the robes of the Thane of Cawdoras if I were he, because I m not. So we see that a new title is like a new , orborrowed in this case, set of clothes. Where another example of clothing imagery is used is when Banquodismisses Macbeth s unusual response to the message that Ross gave him ofDuncan s announcement, naming Macbeth Thane of Cawdor in gratitude ofsaving his kingdom: New honors came upon him, Like our strange garments , cleave not But with the aid of use,… (I, iii,144-146) In this statement, Banquo said that the reason he is acting weird is because,becoming Thane of Cawdor is like a new pair of clothes being worn for thefirst time; it s not too comfortable the first few times worn. So Banquo isstating that Macbeth needs to get more comfortable with the idea of being athane of another territory. Another excellent example of clothing imagery occurs when Macbethtells Lady Macbeth that hi will not go through with the murder of Duncan: I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people Which would be worn now in their newest gloss. (I, vii, 32) When he made the comment about golden opinions , he meant that manypeople in the country look up to him and has good opinions about himbecause he just saved their country. Macbeth said he wanted to bask in theglory of being famous and having all eyes on him, If he killed Duncan, all theattention would be drawn toward the death of the king. Another example of Shakespeare s clothing imagery is when LadyMacbeth responded to her husbands last imagery statement. She is prettyupset that he is going back on his word: Was the hope drunk. Wherein you dress d yourself (I, vii, 35-36) What she meant is that, earlier, he said that he was going to kill Duncan sothat he would become king. Now that he s having second thoughts, she asksif the motivation that flared within him was like a coat you could just take onand off. Shakespeare s use of clothing imagery used in the play Macbeth,shows the genius of his use with words. It helps us have a more realisticimage of Macbeth and the rest of the characters. Shakespeare was, and is, aworld famous writer, he is still famous, even though he has been dead foraround 300 years.