Symbolism in Macbeth
...t again . . . " and "That will be ere the set of sun." (I. i. 1,4) foreshadow the king's death. The imagery of light and dark continues throughout the play. "Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires." (I. iv. 50-51) demonstrates Macbeth's step toward evil. Most of the corrupt or unusual events in Macbeth occur under a cloak of darkness. The murders, Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking, and the appearance of the witches all take place at night. Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking scene is the epitome of the light/darkness symbol. She once craved the darkness but now carries a candle to dispel it. The line, "She has light by her continually; 'tis her command." (V. i. 19), symbolizes Lady Macbeth's fear of darkness or evil. The image of blood plays an important role in the event of Duncan's murder. It represents Macbeth's guilt and shame about the horrific crime. After killing the king, Macbeth comments on his blood stained hands by saying, "As they had seen me with these hangman's hands." (II. ii. 28) Macbeth refuses to return to the crime scene to smear blood on the guards, fearing the blood will somehow implicate him further. Macbeth feels uncomfortable with blood on his hands. He immediately tries to remove it after killing the guards. The archetypal pattern of purification by water is prominent in the play. It symbolizes the removal of guilt. Following the murder of Duncan, Lady Macbeth reassures her husband by telling him, "A little wate...