How Is Macbeth Presented In Jacobean

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Macbeth is a classical example of literature reflecting a period of time and the motivations within that. Macbeth explores many thematic concerns of the era. One of the most apparent themes is the interplay between appearance and reality. This is a highly relevant thematic concern for a largely superstitious and Christian audience in Jacobean times. This particular thematic concern is explored within act 2, scene 1 where Macbeth hallucinates about the dagger as well as act 5, scene 1, when Lady Macbeth goes mad. In particular Macbeth and Lady Macbeth characterise the continual struggle between appearance and reality. Today the issue of appearance and reality is still relevant to audiences, today in contemporary politics rather than in Macbeth’s Scotland. Firstly, Act 2, Scene 1 where Macbeth hallucinates about the dagger is representative of the continual struggle of appearance and reality. This is because Macbeth struggles to reconcile his guilt for planning to kill King Duncan and this manifests itself into hallucinating the dagger. Macbeth and his conscience are experiencing guilt for his future plans to murder King Duncan…show more content…
As Macbeth moves to murder King Duncan, his mind fills with evil images and begins to feel guilty of what actions he is soon to undertake. The blood on the dagger symbolises Macbeths struggle to reconcile himself for what he is to do and this is reflected in his hallucinations of the bloody dagger, “on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood”. The stage direction in the scene of the bell ringing symbolises the death of King Duncan and the beginning of Macbeth’s madness. Furthermore, Macbeth’s struggle between appearance and reality is demonstrated in the personification of Macbeth’s eyes. “Mine eyes are made the fools o’th other

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