The Use of Similes in Macbeth

William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, is bursting with colorful imagery and poetic vibes that totally pump up the drama of the play. One big thing Shakespeare uses is the simile, which is kinda like comparing two things that don't really relate by using "like" or "as." Through these well-placed similes, Shakespeare doesn't just pull the audience deeper into understanding the characters and themes, but also gives more depth to the whole storyline. In this essay, we're gonna dive into the different similes in Macbeth, figure out why they're important, and chat about how they shape the feel and meaning of the play.

Similes in Macbeth

Blood as a Symbol of Guilt and Consequence

Shakespeare throws in similes to really show off the guilt and consequences the folks in Macbeth deal with. After King Duncan gets whacked, Macbeth is just drowning in guilt and regret. In Act 2, Scene 2, he freaks out:

"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red."

Here, Macbeth compares his bloody hands to a huge ocean, really showing how deep his guilt goes. This simile makes it clear there's no way to wash away what he's done. By tossing in this comparison, Shakespeare nails down how heavy this guilt is for Macbeth and how you can't take back what you've done.

Ambition as a Fiery Desire

Another cool simile in Macbeth? It's about ambition being like a fire. Lady Macbeth's got her eyes on becoming queen and pushes her hubby to do some crazy stuff. In Act 1, Scene 5, she spills:

"Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it."

She’s saying Macbeth's ambition is like a fire needing fuel to burn bright. The point here is if he doesn't have that ruthless edge, his dreams are toast. With this simile, Shakespeare shows how ambition can totally eat people up, pushing them into terrible acts for power.

Sleep as a Symbol of Innocence and Peace

Shakespeare also uses similes to talk about losing innocence and peace in Macbeth. After doing in King Duncan, Macbeth can’t shake off his guilty conscience. In Act 2, Scene 2 he moans:

"Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep'—the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care…"

This paints sleep as a soothing balm fixing everything wrong in your head. But now that balm's gone for Macbeth because of his nagging guilt. By tossing around this comparison, Shakespeare highlights how tortured Macbeth feels mentally due to his burning ambitions.

Conclusion

Sooo... wrapping it up here — using these similes makes Macbeth's characters and themes stand out more while adding layers to its plot. Comparing unrelated stuff lets Shakespeare show emotions clearly while making us think about ambitions’ cost or lost innocence post-guilt trip — all central ideas still grabbing audiences today!

Bibliography

• Mowat B., & Werstine P. (Eds.). (1992). Macbeth.
• Bate J., & Rasmussen E., (Eds.). (2007). Complete Works: Modern Critical Edition.
• SparkNotes Editors (n.d.) SparkNotes: Macbeth Study Guide.
• Abrams M.H., & Greenblatt S., (2018). The Norton Anthology of English Literature.
• Lamb H.H., & Lamb J.B., (Eds.). (2004). Cambridge Introduction To Shakespeare’s Tragedies.