Weekly Revision: Motif of Darkness in Macbeth

Introduction

Focus: The motif of darkness in Shakespeare's "Macbeth"
Purpose: Enhance the theme of corruption and deterioration
Shakespeare's intention: Warn against regicide (killing of a king or queen), showing its destructive consequences

Quotation: "Stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires."
- Context: Macbeth reacts to King Duncan naming Malcolm as successor, conflicting with the witches' prophecy of Macbeth becoming king
- Analysis:
  - Adjectives: "black" and "deep" highlight Macbeth's depravity
  - Themes: Appearance vs. reality, duplicity of Macbeth
  - Character Flaw: Macbeth's hamartia (unchecked ambition)
Connection with Witches:
- Initial meeting in darkness, symbolizing evil
- Banquo's description of witches as "instruments of darkness"
- Darkness as an asset for both Macbeth and witches

Soliloquy: Calls upon supernatural, "come thick night and pour thee in the dunnest smoke of hell"
- Purpose: Show her alignment with Macbeth's evil intentions
- Joint Desire: Use darkness to cover sinful deeds
Character Development:
- Act 5: Described with a "taper," symbolizing limited hope and redemption
- Reflects decline from power and the consequences of her actions

King Duncan's Announcement:
- "Stars shall shine on all deservers"
- Emphasizes the great chain of being and divine right of kings
Disruption:
- Post-regicide, Ross and old man discuss chaos (e.g., "dark night strangles the traveling lamp")
- Symbolizes disruption of natural order

Banquo and Fleance carry torches, symbolizing virtue
Murder of Banquo extinguishes light, symbolizing the loss of morality due to Macbeth's actions