In Shakespeare's "Macbeth," clothing is used as a significant symbol throughout the play, representing themes of identity, ambition, and the deceptive nature of appearances. Here are a few examples of how clothing is referenced in relation to the characters and events in the play, including relevant textual evidence:
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Royal Robes and Ambition: The transition from Thane to King is often associated with Macbeth's desire for power, underscored by the symbolism of clothing. When Macbeth is named the Thane of Cawdor, he says:
"Why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature?"
(Act 1, Scene 3)Here, the "suggestion" refers to the idea of becoming king, which is a heavy and new 'garment' that he is grappling with. The metaphorical clothing of ambition begins to weigh on him.
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The Robes of Kingship: Macbeth later reflects on the deceptive nature of his new title and the guilt it carries, suggesting that he does not feel worthy of the royal garb. After he becomes king, he says:
"The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me
In borrowed robes?"
(Act 1, Scene 3)This line indicates that Macbeth feels he is wearing the "clothes" of the king without actually earning the right to wear them. This represents his internal conflict and feelings of imposture.
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Lady Macbeth and Masculinity: Lady Macbeth calls on the spirits to "unsex" her, desiring to wear the "clothes" of masculinity to commit regicide. She says:
"Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty!"
(Act 1, Scene 5)This indicates her desire to strip away her femininity and adopt traits traditionally associated with masculinity, as she believes power is tied to the ability to commit violence.
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The Weight of Guilt: In Act 2, Scene 2, after Duncan's murder, Lady Macbeth tries to comfort Macbeth, who is troubled by his actions and the "clothing" of murder he feels he has donned:
"My hands are of your color; but I shamed
To wear a heart so white."Here, she indicates the guilt they both bear (the "red" of blood), and she associates the shame of that guilt with a type of clothing; she criticizes Macbeth for feeling guilty (“wearing” guilt) when they are both complicit in the crime.
In summary, clothing in "Macbeth" is intertwined with themes of ambition, identity, and the performative nature of power. Characters struggle with the roles they find themselves in, and the symbolic weight of their garments reflects their internal conflicts and the broader narrative of ambition and guilt in the play.