Macbeth Written Response (Act II Polished) Essays - Free Essays

Macbeth Written Response (Act II Polished) Essays - Free Essays Macbeth Written Response (Act II Polished) Dev Brar Throughout William Shakespeare's Macbeth, the literary device of symbolism often occurs. Shakespeare utilizes this literary device , most specifically blood, water, light and darkness to exemplify the inner conflicts of Macbeth's guilt and guilty conscience. Shakespeare uses blood as a trigger for the protagonist, Macbeth. The sight of blood, triggers Macbeth's guilt of committing the treasonous act of killing King Duncan. More specifically, the sight of blood triggers the internal conflict between Macbeth thinking killing Duncan was the right choice or the wrong choice. In scene ii, Macbeth comments on the appearance of his hands after the deed was done, for his hands were covered in the King's blood. "As they had seen me with these hangman's hands" (2 2 35). Macbeth is commenting on how his hands match the hands of an executioner. By Macbeth stating this line it is evident to the audience that Macbeth is in fact feeling guilt. This is the first instance of Macbeth's battle of guilt between thinking that he had made the right choice to kill Duncan and take the crown, or making the wrong choice. After Macbeth refuses to back to the scene to plant the bloodied daggers and smear Duncan's blood on the guards. By macbeth refusing to go back to the scene it means that Macbeth believes that he has made the incorrect option and guilt os now overcoming him, and returning to the scene will only intensify the guilt because of all the blood. This shows that Macbeth is now attempting to escape the sight of blood, but since there is instances of blood used throughout all the other acts this, meaning that Macbeth cannot escape blood, which is a metaphor stating that Macbeth cannot escape guilt either. The usage of water represents purity, and innocence. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to wash off Duncan's blood with some water. "Go get some water and wash this filthy witness away from your hand"(2 2 56). By Lady Macbeth telling Macbeth to wash this filthy witness away from your hand' represents an attempt to cleanse oneself of the guilt that Macbeth is experiencing. Macbeth, however does not believe that the water will do the trick. "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnate, making the green one red" (2 2 73-76). Macbeth is stating that all of Neptune's waters could not clean his hands clean of blood, meaning that all the purity and innocence in the world cannot clean Macbeth of his guilt. Macbeth also states that he would turn all the green waters crimson red, this again is due to Macbeth thinking that killing King Duncan has made an internal wound so deep, that is buried with guilt, when a ttempted to be cleansed will turn all the purity that Macbeth sees turn into guilt. Light and darkness is the contrast between good and evil. Light and darkness also represents innocence and guilt. Light and darkness are used to contrast the innocence/good and guilt/evil in Macbeth. The quote "When shall we three meet again That will be the set of the sun" (1 1 4) foreshadows Macbeth's inner conflict of light and darkness, of innocence and guilt. In other instances it is shown that guilt and evil are beating innocence and good. "Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires" (1 4 50-51). Demonstrates Macbeth acknowledging that he will be guilty of Duncan's death in the future, but prays' that the light fades away and that darkness prevails. With the darkness of evil taking over Macbeth, guilt comes with it, so that when Macbeth does an evil deed the darkness inside him grows. However as the darkness grows the hunger for evil greatens, but when satisfied, guilt is a symptom in which one must suffer for all the evil they had done. Shakespeare uses various literary elements to portray themes in his tragic. In act II being guilt through the use of symbolism. Due to the guilt in which Macbeth experiences causes him to act differently. The guilt causes Macbeth to undergo slight character change, creating