Darkness is a pervasive theme in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth . The play opens with three witches one of whom says ominously, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” The protagonists are Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth both of whom are described as ‘children of darkness’ by the Shakespearean scholar A. C. Bradley. It is worth quoting Bradley in some detail. “These two characters are fired by one and the same passion of ambition ; and to a considerable extent they are alike. The disposition of each is high, proud, and commanding . They are born to rule, if not to reign. They are peremptory or contemptuous to their inferiors . They are not children of light, like Brutus and Hamlet; they are of the world. We observe in them no love of country, and no interest in the welfare of anyone outside their family . Their habitual thoughts and aims are ... all of station and power.” Ambition in itself is a good thing. But when ambiti...
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