Evil/Macbeth Flashcards
“stars, hide your fires”
The phrase “stars, hide your fires” could refer to several things. Firstly, the “stars” might represent the gods or the heavens. In this case, Macbeth doesn’t want them to see his sins, in the hopes that he will still be blessed by them and have salvation. Equally, he fears their judgement and disappointment. Similarly,
“stars” could be previous heros. It was common in mythology for heros to be
immortalised in the stars, like with constellations. Macbeth still wants his chance at being a hero to his country. Alternatively, asking the “stars” to “hide [their] fires” could show how Macbeth wants to operate in darkness. This means he can avoid detection from others, but more importantly, doesn’t have to witness
his own corruption and villainy.
“seeling night” (3.2) “deserver”, “castle hath a pleasant seat,” (1.6), “worthy gentleman” (1.2), “honoured hostess,” (1.6). “pleasant”
Macbeth, in contrast to Duncan, wants to be in darkness to do his crimes, asking for “seeling night” (3.2) suggesting it would be obvious to Duncan that he’s not a “deserver”, but Duncan is unaware of Macbeth’s plots. He remarks that the Macbeths’ “castle hath a pleasant seat,” (1.6), calls Macbeth a “worthy gentleman” (1.2), and Lady Macbeth an “honoured hostess,” (1.6). He is taken in by their “pleasant” appearances. It is almost humiliating how drastically wrong his impressions of the Macbeths are, challenging these ideologies. Shakespeare suggests true evil is so dangerous because it arrives with the face of goodness. The most vulnerable people are those who don’t understand that the world is an evil place.
“restless ecstasy” (3.2)
“Macbeth shall sleep no more,” (2.2)
“innocent”
“balm of hurt minds”,
Shakespeare uses sleep as a symbol of innocence and peace, it brings comfort and is an escape from the troubles of the real world. Sleep is also used to express and reveal the subconscious and the conscience. Thus, sleep is denied to the Macbeths after they murder Duncan. Instead, their nights are plagued by nightmares and “restless ecstasy” (3.2), suggesting they relive their crimes every time they close their eyes. When the Macbeths murder Duncan, Shakespeare shows they have sacrificed any chance of serenity and well-being. It is concluded, “Macbeth shall sleep no more,” (2.2). As well as being the villain, Macbeth realises he has damned himself. He “shall sleep no more”, so he has brought torment and torture on himself. Shakespeare shows how those who are guilty of sins are self-destructive. Macbeth sleeping “no more” is a symbol of his active, haunted conscience. Sleep is “innocent”, a “balm of hurt minds”, so it cannot be enjoyed by a murderer bathed in blood, as Macbeth is.
“Stars, hide your fires, / Let not light see my black and deep desires, / The eye wink at the hand. Yet let that be, / Which the eye fears when it is done to see,” (1.4).
Both of the Macbeths call upon darkness to mask their crimes. The darkness could be reflective of them turning their back on God and goodness and instead siding with temptation and the devil. When the idea of murdering Duncan first comes to Macbeth, he says in an aside, “Stars, hide your fires, / Let not light see my black and deep desires, / The eye wink at the hand. Yet let that be, / Which the eye fears when it is done to see,” (1.4). Duncan already established “stars” as “signs of nobleness”- “honors, like stars, will shine on everyone who deserves them”, so Macbeth is using the darkness to protect his innocent reputation. The phrase “black and deep desires” evokes an images of decay, and suggests Macbeth is aware of his immorality while he nurtures it. By asking the “stars” to “hide [their] fires”, it seems Macbeth is more concerned with avoiding judgement than embracing darkness. “Let not light see” and “Yet let that be, / Which the eye fears” suggests the darkness is for his own benefit. He can’t bear to look at what he is going to do, even though he wants it to happen.
