MacbethL ImagesOne of the most important tools in literature are images. It's not just there to fill paper; rather, there is at least one dramatic purpose for each image, and there are many different types of images. This essay attempts to demonstrate that in the play Macbeth the author William Shakespeare uses images of darkness for three dramatic purposes. These three purposes are: to create atmosphere, to arouse the emotions of the audience and to contribute to the main theme of the work. Macbeth's dark imagery adds to its menacing atmosphere. At the beginning of the play the three witches are talking and the first witch says "When will we meet again? In thunder, lightning or in the rain?" (Macbeth 1. 1. line 1). This is a good example of darkness imagery because when you think of thunder, lightning, and crashing rain, they all remind you of evil and threatening things. Later the sergeant is talking to Duncan and Malcolm when he states "Destructive storms and terrible thunders break loose" (1. 2.l26). Once again these dark images contribute to the ominous atmosphere of the work, referencing thunder and dark storms. Finally, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are talking in the scene just before Banquo's murder and Macbeth says "The light thickens, and the raven gives wings to the crow-wood: the good things of the day begin to droop and slumber, while the black agents of the night gild their prey." (3.2.150-53). This example of darkness imagery says that the day is turning into night, all good things will go to sleep, and evil creatures will come out. The evil in this previous quote and the previous two adds to the eerie atmosphere. Since the images create an eerie atmosphere, they would then lead to the second dramatic purpose, to arouse the audience's emotions. Images of darkness are a great tool to arouse the emotions of the audience. It allows people to create a mental image of what they are reading. For example, in this example of darkness imagery, Duncan and Macbeth were talking when Macbeth says aside "Stars, hide your fires! Let not the light see my black and deep longings" (1. 4. l50- 51). When words like darkness and longing are put into that context, it creates many horrific mental images of killing and fighting that stir people's emotions. Ross later talks to an old man when he states, "By the clock it is day, yet the dark night strangles the traveling lamp"." (2.