Sean Blumlein
Mr. Flood
English 11 H
20 March 2018
Light Prevails in the Night
People hear the word light and they often think of physical light, but the word light has many underlying interpretations and meanings. Whether in the form of wavelengths, the constant struggle of good vs. evil, representing life, a guide, a force, or to describe speed, light is almost always a positive that often relates to a person being on the pathway to happiness. The many elements and meanings of light are illustrated in various biblical texts, shakespearean works, and many modern news articles. Since the beginning of man there has always been the constant struggle of good versus evil. A common metaphor for good versus evil, is light versus …show more content…
In this battle, light almost always prevails because it is stronger then the darkness, John says "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome"(John 1:5). You can clearly see this demonstrated in the physical world with a simple test, if you turn on a light in a dark room, the darkness instantly vanishes. When you open a window at night in a lighted room, the darkness of the night cannot invade the lighted room because the light is more powerful then the darkness. In Macbeth, King Duncan names Malcolm as his predecessor and hails Macbeth for his bravery in battle by comparing them to the stars. He says "Signs of nobleness,like stars, shall shine.” (Act 1 scene 4 line 323) Duncan explains those who are righteous will be rewarded and will shine like a "star", he says this because light is seen as good. But Macbeth begins to ignore theses values that Duncan has spoke highly of him for. "Stars hide your fire", "let not light see my black and deep desires"(Act 1 scene 4 line 333-334). In this case light is seen as goodness, but …show more content…
Light is defined as life in the Bible, when Jesus says he is the light of the world. "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world, He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”(John 8:12) This common theme of light representing your life can be seen across many works of literature as well. From the first act of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, asks "thick night" to come with the "smoke of hell," so her knife won't see the wound it makes in the peacefully sleeping King (1.5.57-58). The darkness relates to the evil or "dark" crime she plans on committing. And then, when she calls for the murderous spirits to prevent "heaven" from "peeping through the blanket of the dark to cry”(act 1 scene 5 line 403-404). Lady Macbeth implies that light offers protection from evil and is the only thing that could stop her from murdering Duncan. So, it's no surprise to us that, when Lady Macbeth starts going crazy, she insists on always having a candle or, "light" about her (Act V scene 1 line 2149). We get the impression that she thinks the light is going to protect her against the evil forces she summoned. Light is also described as life when Macbeth responds to the news of Lady Macbeth's presumed suicide by proclaiming "out, out brief candle" (Act V scene 5 line 2380), turning the candle's flame has become
Mr. Flood
English 11 H
20 March 2018
Light Prevails in the Night
People hear the word light and they often think of physical light, but the word light has many underlying interpretations and meanings. Whether in the form of wavelengths, the constant struggle of good vs. evil, representing life, a guide, a force, or to describe speed, light is almost always a positive that often relates to a person being on the pathway to happiness. The many elements and meanings of light are illustrated in various biblical texts, shakespearean works, and many modern news articles. Since the beginning of man there has always been the constant struggle of good versus evil. A common metaphor for good versus evil, is light versus …show more content…
In this battle, light almost always prevails because it is stronger then the darkness, John says "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome"(John 1:5). You can clearly see this demonstrated in the physical world with a simple test, if you turn on a light in a dark room, the darkness instantly vanishes. When you open a window at night in a lighted room, the darkness of the night cannot invade the lighted room because the light is more powerful then the darkness. In Macbeth, King Duncan names Malcolm as his predecessor and hails Macbeth for his bravery in battle by comparing them to the stars. He says "Signs of nobleness,like stars, shall shine.” (Act 1 scene 4 line 323) Duncan explains those who are righteous will be rewarded and will shine like a "star", he says this because light is seen as good. But Macbeth begins to ignore theses values that Duncan has spoke highly of him for. "Stars hide your fire", "let not light see my black and deep desires"(Act 1 scene 4 line 333-334). In this case light is seen as goodness, but …show more content…
Light is defined as life in the Bible, when Jesus says he is the light of the world. "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world, He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”(John 8:12) This common theme of light representing your life can be seen across many works of literature as well. From the first act of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, asks "thick night" to come with the "smoke of hell," so her knife won't see the wound it makes in the peacefully sleeping King (1.5.57-58). The darkness relates to the evil or "dark" crime she plans on committing. And then, when she calls for the murderous spirits to prevent "heaven" from "peeping through the blanket of the dark to cry”(act 1 scene 5 line 403-404). Lady Macbeth implies that light offers protection from evil and is the only thing that could stop her from murdering Duncan. So, it's no surprise to us that, when Lady Macbeth starts going crazy, she insists on always having a candle or, "light" about her (Act V scene 1 line 2149). We get the impression that she thinks the light is going to protect her against the evil forces she summoned. Light is also described as life when Macbeth responds to the news of Lady Macbeth's presumed suicide by proclaiming "out, out brief candle" (Act V scene 5 line 2380), turning the candle's flame has become