Macbeth Leitmotif Essay - 1359 Words

Did Anyone Call For a Tailor? William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Macbeth, follows the effects that power possesses on one’s actions and shows that clothing can’t mask one’s true self. Macbeth begins the play as a noble and loyal servant of King Duncan. He is highly regarded and has won honor through his valiant actions in battle. However, when he is bestowed with a promise of supreme power he begins his rapid descent into corruption. In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses clothing imagery to show Macbeth’s moral slide from noble to tyrant. As the play begins, Shakespeare uses clothing imagery to complement Macbeth and show the hope that others have for him. After the witches’ prophecy is cast onto Macbeth and Banquo, Banquo†¦show more content†¦Macbeth uses clothing to show his unease, how he must seek cover by any means, even the slight cover of clothes. He thinks that he will be able to forget his deeds by covering himself with the most extravagant clothing, the royal robes. However, upon receiving the crown and the robes, Macbeth is never able to relax. He is revealed to be constantly worrying about the prophecy and how Banquo’s children will inherit his throne when he says, â€Å"Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown† (III.i. 61). He has become a nervous and paranoid king, unfit to rule his country. Macbeth believes that he has the ability to change his fate and, because of this, is led to thinking that that he must kill off all those who oppose him to keep his kingship. In this line the clothing imagery is used to portray Macbeth’s uneasiness and fear towards the rest of the prophecy bestowed upon him and Banquo by the witches. Because of his paranoia Macbeth sets out on a murderous rampage, killing many people who oppose him. The prophecy that once gave him hope has now become the object that he must flee. Macbeth kills Macduff’s whole family and, upon hearing the news, Malcolm tells Macduff to, â€Å"Ne’er pull your hat upon your brows; / Give sorrow words† (IV. iii.208-209). Malcolm tells Macduff to express his feelings, not to hide himself in his clothing. This marks a