SYMBOLISM IN WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S WORKS

Justin Winters

English 1102

Mrs. Owens

CONTENTS

About William Shakespeare.

What is symbolism?

Symbols in “Romeo and Juliet”

Symbols in “Macbeth”

Symbols in “Hamlet”

Conclusion

Works Cited

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Born April 23, 1564

Died April 23, 1616

Wrote over 30 plays and 154 sonnets.

His works are still immensely popular today and many are the primary subjects of recent films and songs.

SYMBOLISM:

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?The use of symbols to represent thoughts, ideas, and qualities and give them deeper meanings.

These symbols can be concrete items, colors, characters, or ideas.

SYMBOLISM IN

ROMEO AND JULIET

ROMEO AND JULIET

Night and Day• Day is used to describe Juliet’s

Beauty.“and Juliet is the sun. Arise,

fair sun, and kill the envious moon.”

• Night is used to portray their love. The darkness of night keeps their love safe.

ROMEO AND JULIET

PoisonThe Friar mentions that poison is something that exist on Earth naturally and without human intervention would not cause harm.

Therefore, poison is used to symbolize the choices humans make.

ROMEO AND JULIETDeathUsed to symbolize a new beginning where Romeo and Juliet can be together.

SYMBOLISM IN MACBETH

MACBETHBlood

Used to symbolize Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s guilt.

MACBETH

WeatherUsed to intensify the moment of Duncan’s death by casting darkness over the land.

SYMBOLISM IN HAMLET

HAMLETThe

CloakUsed to symbolize the importance of the character before he is even introduced.

Also could be a symbol of Hamlet’s death because it us a mourning cloak.

HAMLETThe

SkullSymbolizes the transition from life and the undeniable fact that we will all die.

IN CONCLUSION

Shakespeare used symbols throughout his works to not only intensify the meaning behind objects but to also bring his audience into his works even more.

WORKS CITED

Chang, Joseph S. M. J. "The Language of Paradox in Romeo and Juliet." Shakespeare Studies 3 (1967): 22-42. Rpt. in

Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. Vol. 87. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Literature Resource Center. Web. 3 Mar. 2014

Cohen, Derek. "Macbeth's rites of violence." Shakespeare in Southern Africa 23 (2011): 55+. Literature Resource Center. Web.

3 Mar. 2014.

Cusick, Edmund. "Macbeth: Overview." Reference Guide to English Literature. Ed. D. L. Kirkpatrick. 2nd ed. Chicago: St. James

Press, 1991. Literature Resource Center. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.

Frye, Roland Mushat. "'Looking Before and After': The Use of Visual Evidence and Symbolism for Interpreting Hamlet."

Huntington Library Quarterly 45.1 (Winter 1982): 1-19. Rpt. in Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. Vol. 137. Detroit:

Gale, 2011. Literature Resource Center. Web. 3 Mar. 2014

"Iconography." Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. Vol. 84. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Literature Resource Center. Web. 3

Mar. 2014.