In Macbeth, clothing serves as a potent symbol that reflects identity, power, and ambition, as articulated through the dialogues of characters like Banquo and Macbeth, as well as Lady Macbeth.
When Banquo remarks, "What are these, so withered and wild in their attire that look not like th' inhabitants o' the Earth and yet are on't," he critiques the witches’ bizarre and unsettling clothing. The descriptors "withered and wild" not only emphasize the unnaturalness of the witches but also suggest their connection to dark forces. Their attire is a visual representation of their malevolent nature and foreshadows the chaos they will unleash. By presenting themselves in this eerie and threatening way, the witches undermine the natural order, and their clothing becomes a physical manifestation of their otherworldliness and evil intentions.
This theme of clothing is further echoed in Macbeth's line, "The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" This statement reveals Macbeth's discomfort with assuming a title that does not yet belong to him. The metaphor of "borrowed robes" suggests that Macbeth feels unworthy and disingenuous, highlighting his internal struggle with identity and ambition. His reference to clothing symbolizes the weight of ambition and the expectations tied to power, further illustrating how external appearances often mask one’s true self.
Lady Macbeth's desire to strip away her femininity and adopt traits typically associated with masculinity also intertwines with the symbolism of clothing. When she called upon the spirits to "unsex" her, she wished to shed societal expectations and limitations placed on her gender. Here, clothing represents not just identity but also the power dynamics of gender. By rejecting her femininity, Lady Macbeth seeks to don a metaphorical armor—fitting for a ruthless participant in the quest for power.
Together, these examples weave a coherent narrative about the significance of clothing in Macbeth. The witches' wild attire signifies their dark influence, Macbeth's discomfort with his "borrowed robes" reveals his uncertainty about identity and destiny, and Lady Macbeth's desire to don masculine traits illustrates her ambition and rejection of traditional gender roles. The interplay of these elements not only emphasizes the characters' motivations but also serves as a critique of how clothing serves as a societal marker of power and identity. Thus, the symbolic use of clothing in Macbeth encapsulates the themes of ambition, identity, and the subversion of natural order within the play.