"Imagery is any piece of language which makes the reader IMAGINE - that is, it makes us form a mental picture or image."
"For example, when Banquo describes the witches in Act I, scene iii,"
"* ...each at once her choppy finger laying / Upon her skinny lips."
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"we can 'see' the witches' appearance."
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"Shakespeare's plays are always interesting for the richness of their imagery, and 'Macbeth' in particular has very many vivid examples. Imagery is also a frequent topic for examination essays."
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"The two most important types of imagery are similes and metaphors. These are common even in everyday speech, but Shakespeare puts them to special use."
"He uses repetition and interweaving of related images to stress the important themes of the play. One interesting example in 'Macbeth' is the frequent use of clothing imagery. (See the notes later in this topic.)"
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"SIMILES use the words 'like' or 'as' to help us form a picture in our minds. e.g."
"* The earth has bubbles, as the water has... (I,iii)."
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" Banquo is trying to explain the suddenness with which the witches vanish. It is as if they have popped like bubbles."
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"METAPHORS are examples of figurative language - they are not literally true. For example when Ross calls Macbeth by the title of Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth exclaims"
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"*Why do you dress me / In borrowed robes?"
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"He is referring of course, to the name Cawdor, which he believes belongs to another man. The 'robes' metaphor is linked to several other examples in the course of the play"
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"As mentioned above, 'Macbeth' is particularly rich in REPEATED IMAGES. Shakespeare returns again and again to an idea that he has introduced."
"The following notes refer to some of the most important recurring images in the play."
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"*1. BLOOD"
"*2. ANIMALS"
"*3. CLOTHES"
"*4. SLEEP"
"*5. ILLNESS/HEALTH"
"*6. LIGHT/DARKNESS"
"*7. BANQUETS"
"*8. CHILDREN"
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"*BLOOD"
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"There are more than 100 references to blood in the play. This emphasises the violent nature of the murders, and Macbeth's own character."
"At first blood is associated with good (the brave captain), and with Macbeth's bravery in battle.Later it is linked to the murder of Duncan and revenge."
"Notice especially Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth's reactions to blood on their hands after the murder of Duncan. Compare Lady Macbeth's words in her sleepwalking scene."
"At the height of his evil, Macbeth says he is wading in a river of blood."
"*I am in blood / Stepped in so far.... III,iv,135-137"
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"*ANIMALS"
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"In Elizabethan times, animals were seen as part of the natural order of the universe."
"In this play, animal imagery is first used naturally to describe Macbeth's great bravery."
"Later images of birds of prey,snakes, bats, scorpions etc, are encountered. e.g."
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"*O, full of scorpions is my mind... III,ii,36"
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"The important theme of Order/Disorder (see Notes-Themes) is emphasised by animals behaving in an unnatural way."
"See in particular: II,iv; III,iv-vi."
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"*CLOTHES"
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"The idea of ill-fitting or unsuitable clothing symbolises Macbeth's unsuitability as King.He is shown to be not of a fit stature to take on the role of kingship."
"The imagery is underlined by frequent use of 'clothes' words such as 'cloaked', 'wrapt' etc."
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"Key quotations include:"
"*I,iii,107 I,iii,145"
"*II,iv,37 V,ii,20"
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"Significantly Macbeth seems most comfortable in his armour - a good pointer to his true role as a great warrior."
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"*SLEEP"
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"Sleep is seen as natural and healing. When he murders Duncan, Macbeth feels that he has murdered sleep."
"Sleeping is associated with innocence, and disturbance of sleep with unnatural deeds."
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"Macbeth's famous speech in Act II, scene ii best sums this up:"
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"*.....the innocent sleep, / Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care... II,ii,36-40"
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"*ILLNESS/HEALTH"
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"Images of sickness and health are used to support the theme of Order/Disorder. With Macbeth in control Scotland is seen as wounded and crying out in pain."
"Both Caithness and Macbeth himself seek a medicine to cure the country of all its ills."
"*V,ii,27 and V,iii,50-54"
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"Edward, the good king of England, is shown to us as a model of kingship (like Duncan). We notice that he is able to perform miracle cures, unlike Macbeth, who only worsens Scotland's ailments."
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"*LIGHT/DARKNESS"
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"Shakespeare uses frequently the common imagery of light to represent innocence and goodness; darkness to symbolise evil."
"Appropiately, 'Macbeth' is a 'dark' play with many of the scenes (including the murders of Duncan and Banquo), taking place at night."
"Macbeth himself is hardly seen in daylight."
"On the other hand, Duncan is associated with light. e.g."
"*Signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine / on all deservers. I,iv,41"
"Compare this to Macbeth a few lines later:"
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"*Stars, hide your fires..... I,iv,50-53"
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"*BANQUETS"
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"Like several of the other recurring images, the banquet is used to support the theme of Order/Disorder. (see Themes)"
"When Macbeth's banquet is disrupted (Act III,scene iv), it is a symbol of the breakdown of the natural order of things, caused by the death of Duncan, the rightful King."
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"By the end of the play Macbeth can be heard to exclaim:"
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"*I have supped full with horrors. V,v,13"
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"*CHILDREN"
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"Children, of course, symbolise innocence and goodness. Shakespeare stresses the hatefulness of Macbeth by showing his fear of children and his viciousness towards them."
"Lady Macbeth's cruelty is also revealed when she says:"
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"*I have given suck.... I,vii,54-59"
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"He has Macduff's children killed and tries to kill Fleance. He fears Malcolm (Duncan's child) who is the rightful king and Banquo's children who were prophesied to come to the crown."
"Children may also represent the future and Macbeth greatly fears the future."
