List at least three specific examples of dark imagery that appear throughout Macbeth. In what scenes do these images appear? What else is happening in these scenes? Explain why Shakespeare uses so much dark imagery in the play. With that blend in the following: how does modern day film incorporate similar imagery and purpose? You could evaluate a Disney movie, comedy, cartoon, etc. Try to stay away from Horror movies because that seems too easy.
One example of dark imagery is in Act 2 Scenes 3-4 when Duncan is murdered by Macbeth, even though the guards of Duncan are convinced that they are the ones who murdered Duncan. In this scene Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan, so Macbeth gets Duncan's guards drunk While the guards are drunk Macbeth kills Duncan. Macbeth is so terrified and shaken up about murdering Duncan that he returns back to Lady Macbeth with the knife that killed Duncan still in his hands. Lady Macbeth then has to be the one who must smear the blood on the guards and put the knife near them to make them seem like they were the ones who murdered Duncan. Another example of dark imagery is when Banquo is killed. Banquo is stabbed in the face a bunch of times so that he doesn't look like himself again. The third example is when Macduffs family is murdered. First a messenger comes in to warn Lady Macduff that he saw some people coming. After that the messenger leaves but it is too late and Lady Macduff has no time to run. The murderers come in and kill Lady Macduffs son, and then the son yells to Lady Macduff to run before she gets killed. Shakespeare uses dark imagery to create a different mood while these scenes are happening. Shakespeare probably wanted to make the audience or readers feel sad that so many people are dying and he wants the audience to feel upset that one of the good characters have died. Modern day film incorporate similar imagery so that it can make the audience watching the film get close and favor a character, and then kill off the character. This would make the audience sad and create a different kind of mood about the film.
I like how you used different examples about how the imagery is dark. I agree with you saying that all the scenes end in death or are related to death.
ReplyDeleteThe dark imagery that you chose were good examples, as they were suspenseful, climactic, and added thickness to the plot. I agree with your idea that death is commonly used as a plot device in Macbeth.
ReplyDeleteDeath is dark. You used examples of death to explain that more than my last sentence. I did like how you said people get close to a character. That is very true and when that character dies a part of you does too, if you were close to said character, and you sympathize with that character's family and friends.
ReplyDeleteI like the different examples you chose to show the dark imagery. I also liked how you said the dark imagery kind of shapes the story. Dark imagery creates suspense. Good job.
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