What is the role of darkness in Macbeth?

Answer 1

Within Macbeth, the imagery and symbolism of darkness plays a prominent role in its representation of the themes of evil, chaos, and concealment. Macbeth equates an act of evil, the time of killing, to an hour of darkness as he discusses murder of Banquo and Banquo's son, Fleance. Telling the Murderers that "[Fleance's] absence is no less material to me / Than his father's, [so] must embrace the fate / Of that dark hour" (3.1.150-152), Macbeth declares his intentions to have them dead, a "dark hour" both literally and metaphorically. Literally, Banquo and his son will be ambushed in the darkness of night; as well, metaphorically, since murder is an act of blatant evil, it is used in an equivalent sense to darkness. With evil and immoral events of this play taking place at night when darkness is prevalent, there remains a sense of chaos and confusion in the day that follows. Following the murder of King Duncan, the protagonist's cousin, Ross, questions why "darkness does the face of earth entomb, / When living light should kiss it?" (2.4.10-11). Ross is wondering why the negative connotations of night have seeped through to the borders of day. This is indicative of the lingering environment of chaos following the murder of a leader; the feeling of confusion in a living nightmare. As the protagonist's ambitious wife who often plays the role of a gracious hostess, Lady Macbeth's darkness is greatly associated with concealment. By saying "And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, / That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, / Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, / To cry, "Hold, hold!" (1.5.54-58), Lady Macbeth hopes that her evil plans involving the treasonous murder of King Duncan will be shrouded in darkness and secrecy from everybody, including herself. By the end of the play, the darkness as a shield that once protected her public image and internal self has vanished. It reveals her as a woman capable of great evil, and gives her immeasurable feelings of guilt, which lead to her suicide. Chaos, evil, and concealment are depicted in Macbeth through the use of darkness, and have a large impact on the characters within it.

Answer 2

Darkness in Macbeth symbolizes evil, chaos, and moral corruption. It represents the moral decay within Macbeth himself and the world around him as he succumbs to his ambition and commits heinous acts. The darkness also foreshadows the tragic events that unfold in the play.

Answer 3

darkness has a part of this scene because darkness hides what it know but instead of hiding it, it shows it to romeo because he was there eavesdropping on Juliet