Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

1. Theme: Evil is present in all humankind

2. Night and Darkness: Foreshadow evil intentions and actions

   • "Stars, hide your fires, let night light see my black and deep desires" - Macbeth
   • " Come, thick night, and cover the whole world in the darkest smoke of hell... so heaven can't peep through the darkness and cry, "No! Stop!"" - Lady Macbeth
   • "By the clock, 'tis day, yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp" - Ross to an old man
   • "The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day" - Murderer

3. Blood: symbolises the guilt that is experienced from evil desires

   • "Will all Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" - Macbeth
   • "I have stepped in blood so far, that, should I wade no more, returning was as tedious as go o'er" - Macbeth
   • "Will these hands ne'er be clean?" Lady Macbeth
   • "Blood will have blood" - Macbeth

4. Sleep: evil actions have grave consequences

   • "Methought I heard a voice cry, "sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep!"" - Macbeth
   • "Wicked dreams abuse" Lady Macbeth
   • "She is troubled by thick coming fancies that keep her from rest" - Doctor to Macbeth
   • "eat our meal in fear and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly" - Macbeth to Lady Macbeth