Introduction
The use of symbol for Macbeth is many in the play Macbeth. For example, in Act 2, Scene 1, Macbeth quotes,
“Is this a dagger, which I see before me?”
By this line, he expressed his ambition and psychological split within him. The split was about the conflict between his morality and thirst for power.
In this drama, Shakespeare used symbols for Macbeth in different stages. For example, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were at first too ambitious for power, but later on, they were found in regret and guilt. There are multi-dimensional symbols that are visible in Macbeth. For example, the tale says blood doesn’t just signify guilt but also acts as a haunting reminder of mortality. This is the reason for Macbeth to suffer guilt after his immoral actions.
Symbol For Macbeth
Representation of Guilt
After the death of Duncan, blood has become a reminder of guilt for Macbeth whenever he sees it. In Act 2, Scene 2, Lady Macbeth said to Macbeth, “A little water clears us of this deed.” By this line, she means that they can’t erase the scene of bloodstain from their heads, and their guilt is growing overtime.
In Act 5, Scene 1, there is a sleepwalking scene of Lady Macbeth. There she says, “Out, damned spot!” although there was no visible spot. This is because Lady Macbeth was so in guilt that she couldn’t erase the blood stain from her imagination.
Ambition and Consequences
When there was the initial presence of blood, Macbeth’s ambition was unchecked at that time. But when the play progressed, Macbeth was facing the consequences of his actions. Like he was going through paranoia and tyranny after his actions descended on him.
In the play, blood was the paradox. Macbeth was first proud of his action after the murder of Duncan. But this action later led him to spiritual death that destroyed his inner self.
Key Examples
There is a rich symbolic meaning to Macbeth’s statement in Act 3, Scene 4. He said, “I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er.” By this line, he is implying that he can’t make his way back after choosing the path of violence.
From this moment, the audience could see a transformation of Macbeth when he was in blood imagery. Then he started to face the guilt and was accepting his moral decay. It seemed like it was the death of Macbeth from guilt.
Unique Interpretations
In the initial scenes, it seemed like blood was the consequence of ambition for Macbeth. But after Act 5, the audience could see the defeat of morality in him.
Lady Macbeth’s downfall was also visible when she was having the imagery of blood. Before that, she thought blood equated with power and success. But later on, she realized that her moral boundaries were being destroyed.
The Dagger as a Symbol
Hallucination and Ambition
In Act 2, Scene 1, there is a phase, the “dagger of the mind.” It’s the symbol of ambition in Macbeth. This spectral dagger is also a projection of Macbeth’s overwhelming desire for power. And this phrase blurs the line between reality and his ambition.
Well, the dagger is described as “a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain.” This phrase means Macbeth’s ambition, which was heading to mental instability.
Foreshadowing Murder
Macbeth made the dagger point to Duncan’s chamber. This was to kill Duncan. He was doing it because of his internal conflict with him.
The dagger also serves as a grim reminder because it was the way to foreshadow the murders. Besides, it got the blood-streaked image of Duncan’s death, which happened because of Macbeth’s action, Banquo’s assassination, and the massacre of Macduff’s family.
In Macbeth, Shakespere used the dagger to symbolize that Macbeth was in control of fate. Although Macbeth feels that he can act free, the dagger’s appearance made him a puppet of destiny.
Psychological Conflict
In Macbeth, the dagger represents the tension between reality and illusion. Because here, Macbeth is struggling to find out whether the dagger is mirroring his internal struggle or not.
The dagger also has a transient nature; sometimes it appears and sometimes it disappears. That’s why Macbeth was not getting any moral clarity and made compulsion acts.
The dagger not only symbolized his ambition but also his vulnerability. When Macbeth was trying to fix the dagger, it was visible that he was trying to validate his actions.
Unique Interpretations
The dagger scene is a commentary on Macbeth’s guilt after he did so much violence. It’s Lady Macbeth who was consumed in guilt mainly. Meanwhile, Macbeth was having hallucinations after he committed a crime.
Macbeth’s self-deception was highly reflected on the dagger. In that scene, he externalizes his inner thoughts into physical vision, distances himself from moral responsibility, and treats the murder as if it were predestined.
Weather as a Symbol
Chaos and Disorder
Disruption of the Natural Order
After Duncan’s murder, there was a kind of violent storm unleashing upon Scotland. It looks like the Renaissance idea, The Great Chain of Being, came true. So when Macbeth killed Duncan, he had obviously killed his moral leadership too. But at the same time, he was getting disrupted because the weather was showing a cosmic imbalance.
Nature’s Revolt
The weather reacts violently to Macbeth’s crime. It seems like it is acting as a silent witness. In fact, in Act 2, Scene 3, Lennox sees,
“The night has been unruly…chimneys were blown down.”
These disturbances are a signal of Scotland’s moral decay.
Foreshadowing Doom
The Witches and Weather
There is a gothic scene in Act 1, Scene 1, where witches say,
“When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning, or in rain?”
This line has set a tone of foreboding. Also, the atmospheric conditions were like chaos, and destruction will be made by those witches.
Recurring Symbol of Storms
Every time storms and darkness appear, it feels like an imminent doom is coming. Because during Banquo’s death also similar storms were happening.
Key Example
By witches’ lines, it was clear that evil will create turbulence in the city. And in this play, Shakespeare has used the storm as a barometer to show the play’s moral decay.
The darkness in Macbeth is showing how characters are having moral blindness. It’s evident in Act 1, Scene 4, where Macbeth is telling the stars to hide their fires so that his dark intentions hide.
Unique Interpretations
Nature as a Character
In Macbeth, weather is more than a backdrop, like it’s reacting to human actions. It means there is a connection between human morality and the natural world.
Weather and Macbeth’s Psyche
Whenever the weather makes chaos, Macbeth’s mind is also in chaos. And this increases his paranoia of guilt for his actions.
Symbol of Resistance
The tumultuous weather can also be a sign that nature is not happy with the leadership of Macbeth. Whenever he becomes a tyrant, nature seems to rebel against his reign.
The Witches and Their Prophecies
Symbol of Fate and Ambiguity
Here, the witches establish a sense of predestination for whatever is happening. This manipulates Macbeth’s decisions, and so he can’t see any difference between destiny and his free will.
False Sense of Security
The witches’ prophecies use symbolic imagery, like the moving forest (Birnam Wood) and
“None of woman born”
(Macduff’s unconventional birth). These are to create a false sense of invincibility. They disguise truths with riddles and prey on Macbeth’s ambition and gullibility.
Sleep as a Symbol
Loss of Innocence
Sleep in Macbeth symbolizes innocence, peace, and the natural rhythm of life. Macbeth’s sleep gets disrupted after he kills Duncan. This not only destroyed Duncan’s life but also his own ability to rest peacefully. Macbeth feels so burdened after that he loses his moral integrity day by day.
Key Examples
In Act 2, Scene 2, Macbeth’s lament is
“Macbeth does murder sleep.”
By this line, he expresses that he has done irreversible damage to himself. After killing Duncan, he is not able to sleep peacefully and loses his moral balance.
Psychological Impact
There is a sleepwalking scene of Lady Macbeth in Act 5. By seeing that, it’s clear she is overwhelmed with guilt because of her violent actions. In her mind, she is only seeing the bloodstains because she was engaged in the murder of Duncan. Also, she has become very restless because of her guilt.
Conclusion
The minor characters and symbols for Macbeth are mainly blood, the dagger, weather, the witches, sleep, the birds and light/darkness. All these symbols have deepened the narrative and enriched the story. Also, the audience got to see how Macbeth’s ambition led him to a moral decline. However, Shakespeare used these symbols as different themes. Like ambition, guilt, fate, and moral conflict. All these have taught us human vulnerability and ethical boundaries. Thanks to Shakespeare’s masterful use of symbolism in Macbeth, from which we got some insights into human nature. It tells us that your unbridled ambition can lead you to a devastating situation.