Essay, Research Paper: Imagery In Macbeth

Imagery plays a very important purpose in the revealing of the character of Macbeth nearthe beginning of the story. It helps to reveal Macbeth as being brave and full of ambitionwhen the captain describes him like Valour s minion ( I, II, 20). This allows theaudience to see, without actually observing, just how brave a man Macbeth really is. It isalso important in showing the audience how Macbeth s ambition is sometimes not enough,when Macbeth says, I have no spurs / To prick the sides of my intent (I, VII, 25-27). This indicates that Macbeth knows of his own fault: he does not contain the right qualities to push forward his Vaulting Ambition (I, VII, 28). Imagery was used very well inrevealing Macbeth s great ambition. Also, imagery is used in revealing Macbeth s character at the end of the play,
where he becomes a tragedy. Shakespeare uses a metaphor when comparing Macbeth slife to that of a falling leaf in autumn when Macbeth says, I have lived long enough: myway of life / Is fall n into a sere, the yellow leaf (V, iii, 22-23). This entitles the audienceto learn that Macbeth now knows that his life has come to it s autumn, and can fall atanytime. Macbeth senses that his end is near and uses imagery when saying, They havetied me to a stake: I cannot fly, / But, bear-like, I must fight the course (V, vii, 1-2). Thiscreates the image that Macbeth is surrounded and there is no escaping death now. Aswell as at the beginning of the play, Shakespeare uses imagery very effectively at the endof the play when describing the character of Macbeth.