Light and Darkness in Macbeth :: Macbeth essays

Light and Darkness in Macbeth     William Shakespeares Macbeth is an ominous tale that illustrates the danger in violating the Great range of mountains of existence, the hierarchy of things in Gods ordered universe. The cosmic string ranked all of creation and human society as well. It ranked kings above nobles and nobles above the poor. When Macbeth murdered poove Duncan and assumed the throne, the Chain was violated... chaos resulted. The air of the play symbolizationized this resulting turmoil. Specifically, light and shadow were used to exemplify the unnatural chaos and ominous tone of the work. This essay will explore the place of light and the role of darkness as it relates to the chaos resulting from the violation of the Great Chain of Being.   Light is a common symbol for good tidings and order, so it is with Shakespeares Macbeth. At the annunciation of his successor, his son, King Duncan said, Which honor must not unaccompanied invest him The Prince of Cumberland, King Duncans son and successor to the throne only, but signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine / on all deservers (Shakespeare 189). King Duncan pledged his throne to his son as would be compatible with the Great Chain of Being. The light that was mentioned suggests that all was right with the world the Great Chain of Being was in proper order. The idea that light signifies the natural order of things is enforced when the nobleman Ross says, And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp the sun (Shakespeare 206). The sun is the symbol of the Great Chain of Being and Gods order in harmony because it is the source of all natural light. Macbeths act of regicide disturbed the natural order of things and so voiced the sun.   In Macbeth, light is a symbol of harmony and order, but darkness is just the opposite. Darkness is the chaos and evil that results from a broken Great Chain of Being. Macbeth sent Scotland into turmoil and dark night whe n he murdered King Duncan. In response to the announcement of the Prince of Cumberland as the successor to the throne of Scotland, Macbeth said, ... Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires to murder both King Duncan and the Prince of Cumberland (Shakespeare 189).