Comment on the dramatic significance of the "Dagger scene" in

Comment on the dramatic significance of the “Dagger scene” in Macbeth.

Ans.

1. Introduction

The Dagger scene is one of the most significant scenes in ‘Macbeth‘. It occurs in the first scene of the second Act. Banquo is disturbed by the thoughts of the witches. He meets Macbeth who has already decided to murder King Duncan. King Duncan at present is in the castle as a royal host of Macbeth. Macbeth intends to know whether Banquo is willing to join him in the crime and indirectly hints at it. However, Banquo is not ready to involve himself in any criminal act. This shows that Banquo’s loyalty to the King is quite firm.

2. The Main theme

As midnight comes. Macbeth gets up and goes out on his way to Duncan. This is at this point that he happens to see an airy dagger hanging before him in the air. Macbeth is deeply agitated and excited, he also feels a bit nervous. The dagger points him to the way to the room where Duncan is sleeping, he nerves himself up by calling upon the spirit of murder and than proceeds towards his victim.

The dagger may be symbolic of the bloody deed that Macbeth proposed to do there is complete darkness outside and people are sleeping soundly, the imaginary dagger leads Macbeth towards the bedchamber of Duncan. This is the time when the witches worship their goddess Hecate and make offerings to her. This is the time when ghostlike murderers go to kill their victims. Macbeth too moves slowly towards the room where his victim is sleeping. Macbeth dismisses the airy dagger as illusory. He takes out the real dagger and goes to perform the deed.

3. The Dramatic Significance

The imaginary dagger may be the outward symbol of Macbeth’s guilty conscience. Macbeth’s imagination is very strong from the very beginning. His vivid imagination shows the dagger with which he intends to murder King Duncan. This horrible vision may be the result of his nervous suspense. This may also be the work of the witches as supernatural temptation, however, the airy dagger is promptly dismissed by Macbeth. He is alert to the reality of the situation. The airy dagger may be the effect of his strong imagination relieved from he guidance of conscience. He speaks philosophical and poetic language but his actions and deeds are bloody the airy dagger thus illustrates the fact that Macbeth is bent upon committing the crime. He is neither depressed nor fearful by this fatal vision. On the contrary, he is encouraged and goaded by it.

In the first act of the drama shows a preparation for the crime, the second Act is its actual commission. Though the murder of King Duncan takes place in the second scene of the second act, this scene provides a necessary suspense. This suspense makes the next murder scene more effective and intensely tragic.

The mysterious influence of the witches is also obvious. It is first present in the dream of Banquo, and then it is felt in the form of the imaginary dagger. The spirit of the murder is sent by the witches who dominate the tragic atmosphere of the play from the very beginning.

The time of the murder is also significant. It is the time when people are sleeping behind the curtains. There is complete darkness, out side the castle and in side the heart of the protagonist. Sin is always committed in darkness, outside or inside. It is the hour of evil and crime. Macbeth seems to be a completely changed person, full of energy and resourcefulness. As a hypocritical villain, he may be contrasted with Banquo who seems to be incorruptible. The action proceeds with full speed leading to the actual deed in the second scene. The entire dagger scene is a masterpiece of utmost compression and compactness.

4. A controversial Matter

Sir Henry Irving remarks that Macbeth is a poet with his brain and a villain with his heart. Macbeth has a great poetic sensibility and glowing imagination. It is this aspect of his personality which brings before him the blood stained dagger. The airy dagger has invoked great controversy. Some critics think that it has a material appearance. Where as some other critics feel that it has a material appearance. Where as some other critics feel that it is only a hallucination caused by the excited brain and heated imagination. Lady Macbeth remarks it as a creation of Macbeth’s fancy.

“O Proper stuff!

This is the very painting of your fear,

This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said

Led you to Duncan.”

This is clearly the psychological interpretation of the airy dagger. Some critics also think that it is a representation of the spiritual world. It is also remarked that the dagger is an instrument of the witches sent to Macbeth for his guidance. However, it seems more correct to think that the airy dagger is rally the product of Macbeth’s own imagination.

“Or art thou but

A dagger of the mind, a false creation

Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?”