Symbolism In Macbeth Essay -- William Shakespeare

In William Shakespeares Macbeth, symbolism plays a prominent role to emphasize the theme of degeneration of power. Throughout the play there are several main symbols repeatedly used to emphasize this theme. The contrast of light and dark representing good and evil, furrow representing unrighteousness, murder, and pain, and the archetypal pattern of purification by using water represents remotion of guilt, purgatorial and peace. Symbolism is used repeatedly to emphasize the theme of decomposition of power. The image of source plays an important role throughout Macbeth. subscriber line represents the murders that Macbeth had committed, the guilt that went along with the murders and the pain that it brought on him during his downfall. The soldier describes the violence and bloodshed, in the war between Scotland and Norway, Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds. (I. ii. 43) foreshadows the violent reputation of the play filled with murder, guilt and pain. Blood in the mu rder of tycoon Duncan also plays a major role because it represents Macbeths guilt as wellhead as his shame for slaying King Duncan. Macbeth observes his blood stained custody and remarks As they had seen me with these hangmans hands. (II. ii. 28) This reveals his guilt and shame because he is comparing his hands to those of an executioners. after(prenominal) the murder, Macbeth refuses to return back to the bed chamber of Kind Duncan to smear the blood on the sleeping guards, because he is afraid that the blood will accuse him further. Lady Macbeth smearing the blood onto the guards represents them trying to rub their guilt off onto the guard. Ill rescript the faces of the grooms withal, for it must seem their guilt (II. ii. 73) but this proves to be ineffective because Macbeth abates up murdering t... ... a dark setting used which involved supernatural events, era the light setting was used for last battle, when Macbeth was slain at the end to show the restoration of peac e and honesty. Thus the symbolism of light and phantasm representing good and evil in the play emphasizes the theme of corruption of power.In conclusion, symbolism is used to emphasize a theme through repeating and imagery. It is used to emphasize the theme of the corruption of power due to Macbeths actions. Blood representing guilt, blood murder, and pain, the contrast of light and dark representing good and evil and the archetypal pattern of purification by using water representing removal of guilt, cleansing and peace are the main symbols used repeatedly to emphasize this theme. These symbols lay out the theme effectively to allow the audience to grasp and involve themselves into the play.