Discussion Topic
Significant symbols in Acts 3 and 4 of Macbeth
Summary:
Significant symbols in Acts 3 and 4 of Macbeth include blood, which represents guilt and murder, and darkness, symbolizing the evil that pervades Macbeth's actions. The appearance of Banquo's ghost symbolizes Macbeth's guilt and fear of retribution. Additionally, the witches' apparitions foreshadow Macbeth's downfall and highlight the theme of fate versus free will.
What are some symbols in Act 3 of Macbeth?
Animal symbolism is particularly important in Act 3 of Macbeth. In the previous act, Ross and the Old Man discussed the horses eating each other as nature's response to Macbeth's murder of Duncan. In Act 3, the animals come to represent humans. Macbeth compares the Murderers to dogs, saying that they count as men just as all kind of dogs, high and low, are still called dogs. This comparison symbolizes that they are vicious, like animals attacking. When he says, "we have scorched the snake, not killed it," he refers to Duncan, whom he sees as not really having died until the evidence of his murder is entirely erased. Until then, he will poison Macbeth's sanity, just like a snake poisons with its venom. "The crow mak[ing] wing to the rooky wood" represents Banquo , who is riding through the woods on his way back to Macbeth's...
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castle. As a crow, he is a symbol of doom for Macbeth. Macbeth also says that his mind is "full of scorpions," meaning his many enemies:MacDuff, Banquo, Fleance, Malcolm, Donalbain, etc. Note that it is Macbeth who makes all these comparisons. He does not see other people, except for Lady Macbeth, as being human like himself. At this point in the play, he sees them as wild animals who must be killed or tamed.
The play Macbeth focuses primarily on the psyche of a killer in pursuit of power. Act three primarily deals with the paranoia of this killer. One of the most important symbols throughout the entirety of the play Macbeth is the symbol of blood. In Act 3, Macbeth continues to ponder the significance of blood and the affect that bloodshed is having on his life and will have on his future.
After killing Duncan, Macbeth is ridden with fear - fear that he will lose the throne. At the banquet after killing Banquo, Macbeth notes "blood they say; blood will have blood." This line means that Macbeth must take the offense against potential enemies for the blood that he has already spilt will lead to his own demise. Blood throughout symbolizes the blot on Macbeth and his wife's consciences. They cannot escape their guilt since the first murder, and with every murder, each character becomes more and more paranoid and crazed from their guilt.
In this scene, the ghost is also a symbol of the physical representation of Macbeth's guilt. The ghost further causes fear and paranoia in Macbeth. The apparition also causes Macbeth's guilt and crazed condition to be conveyed publicly to his guests.
What symbols are significant in Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 2, and why?
Macbeth act Four, scene two takes the audience into the home of Lady Macduff and her son, both reeling from Macduff's sudden departure. After lamenting her husband's departure to Ross, the meat of the scene consists of banter between Lady Macduff and her son, in which Lady Macduff tries to convince the child that his father is dead but her son knows better because, he says, if his dad really were dead his mother would be crying. This domestic scene is abruptly cut short by the arrival of murderers who kill the boy and pursue Lady Macduff off stage when she runs from them.
The scene is chock full of bird and flight symbolism, first to discuss Macduff's abandonment of his family, and then again in Lady Macduff's conversation with her son.
Lady Macduff repeatedly uses the words "flight" and "fly" to describe her husband's sudden departure and compares him unfavorably to a bird, saying that even the smallest wren would fight the largest owl to protect his nest and babies. Then, when Lady Macduff asks her son how he will live now without a father, he responds "as birds do, mother," meaning he will get by on whatever he can. Lady Macduff responds,
Poor bird! thou'ldst never fear the net nor lime,
The pitfall nor the gin.
These are words of warning that, though she doesn't know this, foreshadow the imminent arrival of the murderers and young Macduff's doom.
The figure of the bird is so often invoked throughout this scene that one could argue it becomes a motif. Though birds are used as metaphors for many different things even within this short scene, they always call to mind flight and freedom. That Macduff's son compares himself to a bird is especially striking as he is so young and has so much life ahead of him. The effect of this comparison is to heighten the irony and devastation of his life being taken at the end of the scene.
A symbol is something concrete that stands for a more abstract characteristic or concept. In this scene, one of the most obvious symbol is that of birds. Birds symbolize different things depending on the type of bird with birds of prey generally representing evil or danger while smaller birds represent freedom and innocence.
Lady Macduff uses a bird to describe her feelings about her husband and his quick departure. She notes that
The most diminutive of birds, will fight Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
She intends to make the audience feel as if Macduff has shirked his duty, leaving his young ones in danger. He has no courage, according to his wife, and no drive to save his family.
The effect of this symbol is to further the idea of flight in the play. Malcolm and Donalbain have "flown" to England and Ireland. Macduff has now "flown" as well. Lady Macduff is warned to flee but choses not to, asking "whither should I fly?" She does not understand that she is in danger, thinking instead only of her anger at her husband.