ANALYSIS OF ARCHETYPAL IMAGES ACT IV

In William Shakespeares Macbeth, there is a variety of archetypal images. Each one

contributes as a significant part of the story, which provides the reader a way to connect and

understand the characters role in the play. Archetypal images of banishment from an ideal world

are related to ideas and emotions expressed by people in many cultures, especially pertaining to

the collapse or destruction of a certain country. One character that is expelled from the ideal

world is Macbeth. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is introduced as a loyal and chivalrous

soldier. He doesnt want to kill King Duncan to obtain the throne. But when he is told of his

future as a king of Scotland, it unleashes a series of events foreshadowing a tragic outcome.

When Macbeth commits his deed with the help of Lady Macbeth, he returns with bloody

daggers clenched on his hands. Shakespeare uses this image to the explain the reason of his

expel. Macbeth becomes powerful,bloody thirsty and greedy which ultimately destroys him.

Furthermore, this is shown when he kills Banquo, one his closest friends. He and his wife are

banished from what might have been a glorious life being king and queen. This is shown by the

arrival of Banquo's ghost appearing to Macbeth at the banquet. At the end of the play, Macbeth

becomes insane and paranoid about everyone. He wants to kill everyone who knows about his

crimes to keep the throne.

Ultimately, Macbeths downfall starts from a noble person to a violent man. With his

malevolent deeds, Scotland is resembled as an underworld region where the dead are punished. It

bleeds and sweeps each day as Macbeth commits his deeds. Shakespeares use of archetypal

images are more convincing than other authors because he connects the readers from the

beginning of the story up to the end. With the imagery used in the story its easier to understand

the role of the characters.