Witchcraft can be seen as an illusion. Throughout the play, Macbeth doesn't know whether he really sees the witches or if they are an illusion because of their tendency to disappear after announcing what is going to happen to him. .
As far as reality is concerned in this extract, the dagger Macbeth sees is an illusion which becomes then a stage reality when he draws out his own dagger: "I see thee yet, in form as palpable as this which I now draw"" (l.40-41). Reality joins illusion. They become closely related and confuse Macbeth even more. Why does the dagger he sees seem as real as the one he has in his hand? .
Given these points, we can interpret the vision of the dagger as the product of Macbeth's guilty mind. He is uncertain about what he has to do. The dagger represents his conscience which will finally lead him to the murder of Duncan. .
The second predominant theme in Macbeth and particularly in this passage is order and disorder and how Macbeth's figure dramatically changes from one to the other. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is seen as an order figure. He is a soldier and defends the king. His dark ambition and his greed for power, being his worst enemies, made him turn into a disorder figure. The struggle takes place in his mind. Even before committing the murder, he has troubles sleeping: "Now o'er the one halfworld nature seems dead and wicked dreams abuse the curtain'd sleep."" Darkness is already mentioned, it echoes to the natural disorder Duncan's murder will cause. His sleep is haunted by nightmares. His guilty mind is trying to make him foresee the consequences his acts will have on him. .
The importance of the "dagger scene " is that it introduces the murder of Duncan, which leads to the real beginning of the story and therefore the start of Macbeth's descent into hell. The murder and the vision of blood are key elements to this scene. First of all, a dagger is a weapon and second of all it is the weapon Macbeth will use to kill Duncan.
(Act 1 Sc ii, line 1). ... In the next passage, in which the sergeant says, "Which smok'd with bloody execution"(Act 1 Sc ii, line 18), he is referring to Macbeth's braveness. ... (Act 2, Scene ii, 55-58). ... Another example of bloods use as a symbol was Act 2, Scene ii. ... In Act 2, Scene ii, Lines 11-12, "I laid their daggers ready; He could not miss them". ...
Scene II first implants ambition into Macbeth's head well also showing Macbeth's excellent reputation in Duncan's court. ... (Act.1 Sc. v. 60) which orders Macbeth to murder him in there own house. ... (Act.1 Sc. vii. 45). ... In scene ii Macbeth's mental illness develops continuously, as his reports of hallucinations head from sights to sounds. ... Also Macbeth can not answer "Amen" to a single prey to god "Listening there fear I could not say 'Amen'"(Act II Sc.ii. 29). ...
In the beginning of scene 1, Macbeth experiences a powerful hallucination. In his hallucination he ponders over a dagger, his murder weapon for King Duncan's eventual death. ... In scene 2, Macbeth is violently awoken by the act he has just committed. ... Throughout scene 1, the diction helps create a strong and ongoing motif of sight. ... In scene 1, there is a use of personification when Macbeth is pondering over his confusion on what is real when he says, "Mine eyes are made the fools of the other senses" (II.44). ...
In Act II, Scene 1, lines 33-34: "Is this a dagger which I see before me,/The handle toward my hand? ... In Act II, Scene 2, lines 62-64: "I go, and it is done: the bell invites me.... Lady Macbeth plays it off with great surprise, as shown in Act II, Scene 3, lines 82-83: "Woe, alas!... In Act II, Scene 3, lines 87-88: "There's nothing serious in mortality:/All is but toys. ... As in Act V, Scene 8, lines 54-55: "Hail, king! ...
(Act I, Scene 5). ... In Act II, Scene 1, Macbeth speaks of a dagger floating before him. ... (Act III, Scene 1) and "Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding." (Act III, Scene 1). ... (Act IV, Scene 1). ...
He spills so much of Duncan's blood that, "their daggers unmannerly Patel 2 breeched with gore" (II, 3, 110). ... (II, 4, 22) By referring to it as a "bloody deed" it aids in portraying the murder as an act of violence. ... The end of the play is filled with scenes of Macbeth's downfall. ... That is the final act of Macbeth's downfall, his demise at the hands of his own enemy. ... Depiction of violence is in every act of Macbeth. ...
Describing the dagger, Macbeth says, "And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, / Which was not so before. ... (II. 1. 54-57). ... (II. 2. 71-75). This passage illustrates that the act of murder has changed Macbeth's character. ... (V. 1. 30-34). ...
In Act Two, Scene 1, the main character Macbeth finds himself spiraling into turmoil and an utterly deranged state of mind while preparing himself for the murder he is about to commit on his honorable friend King Duncan, due to his unresting ambition. ... does two separate jobs; paints a picture in the audience's mind of a dagger being just out of the reach of Macbeth, as well as foretells what Macbeth will be doing soon with a real dagger. ... Shakespeare also compares Macbeth to the Roman King Tarquin as well as having, "Moves like a ghost," (II, 2, 55 & 56). ... Finally, another major ...
This is supported by Macbeth's dialogue and actions in the introductory scenes. ... "Let not light see my black and deep desires" (act 1, scene 4). ... This is evident in his dialogue with Seyton "And that which should accompany old age, as honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I can not hope to have " (act 5, scene 3). ... For example, in the first scene of act II an imaginary dagger points Macbeth toward Duncan's chamber. ... A lengthy monologue delivered by Hecate (act 3, scene 5) foreshadows complications in the plot regarding this change of nature within Macbeth, as well a...