Role Of Demonology In Macbeth

What’s Done is Done
King James I’s publication on demonology is seen as one of the most controversial religious writings in history. James’s interest in demonology likely led to the characters of the three witches in Macbeth. Macbeth is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare in 1606 for King James I. Macbeth follows the story of the Macbeths as they transform from ordinary nobles to power-hungry murderers. Following Duncan’s assassination, both of the Macbeths begin to change as their selfish desire for power grows. The mental effects of their guilt lead them both to insanity, and even lead Lady Macbeth to suicide. Shakespeare employs blood and eye/hand imagery to explore the psychological consequences of their murderous sins that devour …show more content…
Later, however, her own guilt causes her to descend into madness as well. Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and also has hallucinations of blood on her hands, just like Macbeth does. On the eve of Macbeth’s fight with Malcom and Macduff, she says, in her sleep:
Out, damned spot; out, I say. One, two,—why, then ’tis time to do’t. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier and afeard? What need we fear who knows it when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him? (5.1.31-36)
This quotation uses blood imagery to show how Duncan’s death is eating away at Lady Macbeth’s conscience. She mimics washing her hands, trying to get the blood off, and also wonders how the old man could have had so much blood in him. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s mental health deteriorates throughout the novel after Duncan’s death. Eye/hand and blood imagery in Macbeth serve the purpose of showing the reader how committing the crime of murdering Duncan, the king, affects both of the Macbeth’s consciences as time passes.

Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House, 2005. Print.
Crowther, John, ed. “No Fear Macbeth.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 7 Mar.

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