Darkness and Evil in Macbeth The darkness in our society is indicative of evil. For example, a black cat, a dark night, and a dark place are all symbols of diablerie. Authors use these symbols to describe an evil character or setting. William Shakespeare uses the image of darkness in Act 4 of his play Macbeth to describe the agents of disorder. The witches, Macbeth, and Scotland are all described as dark because they represent the agents of chaos. The witches in the first scene of Act 4 are depicted as agents of chaos due to the dark domain that surrounds them. The witches meet in a dark cave. The cave is an appropriate environment for witches because it tends to represent the underworld and hell, creating a feeling of evil. The appearance of witches, "secret, black, midnight hags" also indicates their evil nature. The witches' dark meeting place and dark appearance emphasize their destructive nature. Macbeth in Act 4: Consults with the witches, kills Macduff's family, and continues to wreak havoc in Scotland. Macbeth in Act 4 is described as an agent of disorder, "untitled tyrant with bloody scepter". The language in Act 1 that described Macbeth changed from "noble" and "gentle" to the diction in Act 4 where the witch describes Macbeth as "black Macbeth" and a "tyrant." The castle Macbeth lives in, Dunsanine, is also indicative of darkness. Dunsanine is similar to the word dungeon: a dark, dirty place. In Act 4 Macbeth is an agent of disorder, killing and consulting witches, which is why he is described using dark imagery. Scotland under Macbeth's rule is described as "shrouded in darkness", by Malcolm. Scotland in Act 4 has fallen from the "Chain of Being" and is now occupied by the forces of chaos and disorder. Scotland in Act 4 is filled with "sighs, groans, and cries that rent the air." Scotland is described by Ross as "O Nation Miserable". All of these descriptions of Scotland portray Scotland as a place where the agents of darkness have enveloped the land. The agents of chaos and disorder were symbolized by darkness in Act 4. The witches were described as "dark as midnight"; Macbeth was described as "diabolical and dark"; and Scotland was described as "dying". The imagery of darkness also plays an important role in character development.