Imagery In “Macbeth” Essay, Research Paper

Imagery in Shakespeare ?Macbeth?

Authors use many literary techniques and devices to make their work

more interesting. They use what is called ? word imagery?. Word imagery is

another word for a metaphor: a comparison not using ?like? or ?as?. In

Shakespeare?s Macbeth, imagery is very often used. No where in

Shakespeare?s genius for metaphor more apparent than in his use for clothing

imagery.

In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare uses a great example of

clothing imagery when Ross tells Macbeth that he is the new Thane of

Cawdor. Macbeth does not believe him because the Thane of Cawdor was

still alive and he does not know how this could come about:

?The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me in

Borrowed robes.?

(I, iii, 109-110)

Macbeth is asking why do you put me in the ?robes? of the Thane of Cawdor

as if I were he, because I?m not. So we see that a new title is like a new , or

borrowed in this case, set of clothes.

Where another example of clothing imagery is used is when Banquo

dismisses Macbeth?s unusual response to the message that Ross gave him of

Duncan?s announcement, naming Macbeth Thane of Cawdor in gratitude of

saving his kingdom:

?New honors came upon him,

Like our strange garments , cleave not

But with the aid of use,…?

(I, iii,144-146)

In this statement, Banquo said that the reason he is acting weird is because,

becoming Thane of Cawdor is like a new pair of clothes being worn for the

first time; it?s not too comfortable the first few times worn. So Banquo is

stating that Macbeth needs to get more comfortable with the idea of being a

thane of another territory.

Another excellent example of clothing imagery occurs when Macbeth

tells Lady Macbeth that hi will not go through with the murder of Duncan:

?I have bought

Golden opinions from all sorts of people

Which would be worn now in their newest gloss.?

(I, vii, 32)

When he made the comment about ?golden opinions?, he meant that many

people in the country look up to him and has good opinions about him

because he just saved their country. Macbeth said he wanted to bask in the

glory of being famous and having all eyes on him, If he killed Duncan, all the

attention would be drawn toward the death of the king.

Another example of Shakespeare?s clothing imagery is when Lady

Macbeth responded to her husbands last imagery statement. She is pretty

upset that he is going back on his word:

?Was the hope drunk.

Wherein you dress?d yourself?

(I, vii, 35-36)

What she meant is that, earlier, he said that he was going to kill Duncan so

that he would become king. Now that he?s having second thoughts, she asks

if the motivation that flared within him was like a coat you could just take on

and off.

Shakespeare?s use of clothing imagery used in the play Macbeth,

shows the genius of his use with words. It helps us have a more realistic

image of Macbeth and the rest of the characters. Shakespeare was, and is, a

world famous writer, he is still famous, even though he has been dead for

around 300 years.

Imagery in Shakespeare ?Macbeth?

Authors use many literary techniques and devices to make their work

more interesting. They use what is called ? word imagery?. Word imagery is

another word for a metaphor: a comparison not using ?like? or ?as?. In

Shakespeare?s Macbeth, imagery is very often used. No where in

Shakespeare?s genius for metaphor more apparent than in his use for clothing

imagery.

In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare uses a great example of

clothing imagery when Ross tells Macbeth that he is the new Thane of

Cawdor. Macbeth does not believe him because the Thane of Cawdor was

still alive and he does not know how this could come about:

?The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me in

Borrowed robes.?

(I, iii, 109-110)

Macbeth is asking why do you put me in the ?robes? of the Thane of Cawdor

as if I were he, because I?m not. So we see that a new title is like a new , or

borrowed in this case, set of clothes.

Where another example of clothing imagery is used is when Banquo

dismisses Macbeth?s unusual response to the message that Ross gave him of

Duncan?s announcement, naming Macbeth Thane of Cawdor in gratitude of

saving his kingdom:

?New honors came upon him,

Like our strange garments , cleave not

But with the aid of use,…?

(I, iii,144-146)

In this statement, Banquo said that the reason he is acting weird is because,

becoming Thane of Cawdor is like a new pair of clothes being worn for the

first time; it?s not too comfortable the first few times worn. So Banquo is

stating that Macbeth needs to get more comfortable with the idea of being a

thane of another territory.

Another excellent example of clothing imagery occurs when Macbeth

tells Lady Macbeth that hi will not go through with the murder of Duncan:

?I have bought

Golden opinions from all sorts of people

Which would be worn now in their newest gloss.?

(I, vii, 32)

When he made the comment about ?golden opinions?, he meant that many

people in the country look up to him and has good opinions about him

because he just saved their country. Macbeth said he wanted to bask in the

glory of being famous and having all eyes on him, If he killed Duncan, all the

attention would be drawn toward the death of the king.

Another example of Shakespeare?s clothing imagery is when Lady

Macbeth responded to her husbands last imagery statement. She is pretty

upset that he is going back on his word:

?Was the hope drunk.

Wherein you dress?d yourself?

(I, vii, 35-36)

What she meant is that, earlier, he said that he was going to kill Duncan so

that he would become king. Now that he?s having second thoughts, she asks

if the motivation that flared within him was like a coat you could just take on

and off.

Shakespeare?s use of clothing imagery used in the play Macbeth,

shows the genius of his use with words. It helps us have a more realistic

image of Macbeth and the rest of the characters. Shakespeare was, and is, a

world famous writer, he is still famous, even though he has been dead for

around 300 years.