ess that hides the evil from the Macbeth’s souls (Holland 57). The idea that evil deeds can only be done in darkness or night runs constant with the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Before most of the crimes or thoughts of the characters occur, the characters ask for darkness to conceal the evilness within their body. An example of the concealing affect of darkness draws closer as Macbeth speaks of his malicious thoughts, “Let not night see my dark desires (1.4.51).” He again wishes for night to screen his thoughts from anyone, including himself, who might uncover his treacherous intensions. From now on, the idea that only in darkness can such evil deeds be done is ever present with both Macbeth and his wife (Spurgeon 330). Lady Macbeth invokes darkness to come so she and her husband may murder King Duncan. “Come think night, (1.5.50).” Lady Macbeth senses that under the cover of night, all deeds and thoughts will be hidden. Her husband, Macbeth, also begs for the blanket of night to conceal the murder of Banquo, “Come, seeling night, scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day (3.2.46).” Shakespeare uses the premonition of darkness and evil to conceal the thoughts and actions of the characters unvaryingly. Again, the audience learns of the relationship between concealment and darkness when Ross speaks of the fatal acts and deeds that continue to occur at nightfall. “Darknight strangles the traveling lamp (2.4.7).” The ‘traveling lamp’ is representative of the sun and with each sinful allegiance during the night the days seem to shorten. From the introduction to the witches, to the destructive guilt of the Macbeth’s, darkness conceals every act, thought, or even regret of the characters. The last significant use of darkness is to provide the characters with opportunity to commit murderous actions. It is not a coincidence that every murde...
