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Motif #9. Imagery of Birds. The use of the imagery of birds to convey meanings is another minor motif in Macbeth. When King Duncan is assassinated, Lady Macbeth hears the sound of a shrieking owl saying that the owl is a “fatal bellman.”. It means the bird announces death of somebody.
The action is bookended by a pair of bloody battles: in the first, Macbeth defeats the invaders; in the second, he is slain and beheaded by Macduff. In between is a series of murders: Duncan, Duncan’s chamberlains, Banquo, Lady Macduff, and Macduff’s son all come to bloody ends. By the end of the action, blood seems to be everywhere.
Symbols are central to understanding Macbeth as a play and identifying Shakespeare's social and political commentary. Throughout Shakespeare's Macbeth, the weather plays an important role. The rebelling nature of wind and lightning indicates the disruption within the natural order of society. It makes it seem as if the weather is upset with ...
Blood. Blood is everywhere in Macbeth, beginning with the opening battle between the Scots and the Norwegian invaders, which is described in harrowing terms by the wounded captain in Act 1, scene 2. Once Macbeth and Lady Macbeth embark upon their murderous journey, blood comes to symbolize their guilt, and they begin to feel that their crimes ...
Symbol: Bloody Hands. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth struggle to rid themselves of Duncan's blood after his murder. Macbeth wonders if his hands will ever wash clean. Bloody hands therefore symbolize guilt and shame, which, though physically clean, will inevitably leave behind anxiety and worry over the sin committed.
At multiple points throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of clothing to explore themes of power and masculinity. In Act 1, Scene 3, Ross and Angus address Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth, disturbed that the Weird Sisters' prophecy seems to have been fulfilled, insists that the title does not belong to him:
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In Macbeth, Shakespeare employs rich imagery, symbolism, and figurative language to enhance the play's themes and characters. In Act 1, vivid descriptions, such as the Sergeant's portrayal of ...
