Motifs in Macbeth

1
Motifs in Macbeth
Fair and Foul
Supernatural
Light and Dark
Sleep
Equivocation
Blood
Nature and Unnatural
Sight and Blindness
Clothing
2
Fair and Foul

• This motif is a paradox!
• How can something be fair (good) and foul (bad)
  at the same time? As the play begins
• the weather is foul but the day has brought
  success to Macbeth.
• Macbeth is a hero but his ambition will be his
  downfall
• the battle has been won but life has been lost.

3
Blood

• This motif begins with the entrance of the
  bloody man, the captain who tells of Macbeths
  bravery in Act I, Scene 2.
• It continues as Macbeth sees the dagger, at the
  death of Duncan, and throughout the play as
  several characters are killed.
• The idea that the blood of a murder cannot be
  washed from the hands is evident in both
  Macbeths and Lady Macbeths speeches.

4
Light and Dark

• Darkness is the prevalent atmosphere in the
  entire play.
• Almost all the scenes take place at night or in a
  dark place.
• Macbeth charges the stars to hide their fires
  so his murderous thoughts will be hidden.
• Lady Macbeth calls on night to come palled in
  the dunnest smoke of hell.

5
Equivocation

• This theme is closely related to the "Fair and
  Foul" theme, because to equivocate is to lie
  by saying something that sounds fair, but which
  has a hidden, foul meaning.

6
Sight and Blindness

• Like Oedipus, Macbeth cannot see his own downfall
  in the making.
• He also tries to hide his crimes even from
  himself.
• Macbeth sees the dagger that is not really there.
• Lady Macbeth sees the damned spot that will not
  wash away.

7
Nature and Unnatural

• Nature and Unnatural nature refers to human
  nature.
• the entire play is about Macbeths unnaturalness.
• It is unnatural, as well, for Lady Macbeth, a
  woman, to be considering murder.
• Nature is disturbed when Duncan is murdered.
• Unnatural night occurs the day after Duncans
  death
• Nature also plays a part when Birnam Wood comes
  to Dunsinane.

8
Clothing

• Clothing is a metaphor for identity in several
  scenes.
• Macbeth refuses to believe his new title and
  first introduces the metaphor in Act I, scene 3
  where he calls his title borrowed robes. Banquo
  also refers to Macbeths title as strange
  garments.
• Macduff refers to Macbeths kingship when he says
  that old robes sit easier than the new.
• Near the end of the play, Angus refers to
  Macbeths kingship as a garment that hangs loose
  about him, like a giants robe.

9
Supernatural

• Shakespeare incorporates the supernatural
  throughout the play
• the first scene where the witches appear
• the next appearance and sudden disappearance of
  the witches
• the dagger that appears to Macbeth seems to be of
  supernatural origin
• the use of camouflage in the final act contrasts
  the supernatural happenings in the rest of the
  play

10
Sleep

• Sleep is one of the foremost motifs in the play
• Duncan and servants are asleep when the crimes
  are committed.
• Macbeths guilt makes him hear Macbeth has
  murdered sleep.
• In III, 6, 34 the lord speaks of Scotland itself
  not sleeping until Macbeth is taken out.
• Lady Macbeth cannot sleep. She sleepwalks and
  dreams of the evil things she and Macbeth have
  done.
• Malcolm refers to sleep when he mentions that
  after Macbeths defeat, the chambers will be
  safe.