Shakespeare uses animal imagery in a religious context to detail the difference between exterior and interior forces. Characters within civilized Christian society are surrounded by Christian images. Characters outside of civilized society are seen with wild pagan creatures. This emphasizes the difference between the outside and the inside. Christian images

MacBeth and Lady MacBeth live within the walls of society. They are Christians in a civilized society. To represent this Shakespeare uses Christian images with them. Throughout the entire play an image of a serpant or snake is seen. Shakespeare uses the snake to represent the deceit and the enemy.

“Look like th’ innocent flower,

But be the serpent under “t.” (Act 1 Scene 6 Line 76)

This passage is alluding to the Bible. Lady MacBeth is telling MacBeth to appear to be the innocent looking fruit as the fruit of the tree of knowledge was to Duncan, but be the snake as the Devil was and take away Duncan”s life. Lady MacBeth and MacBeth at this point are fairly innocent, they haven’t committed horrible murders and have a clear conscience and balanced perception of right and wrong. Both of them know murdering Duncan is wrong and that they are the enemy by doing it, but they are going to do it anyways; it is made clear by the use of the image of the serpent. Lady MacBeth is telling MacBeth to be the serpent, to find evil and deceit in himself to commit this crime. After this first murder is committed both characters change. They have committed one murder so it is easier for them to commit another. They no longer see themselves as the predators fighting for position but as proactive persons who must fight off predators before they become the prey. This is clear by who is being represented by the snake later in the play.

“We have scorched the snake, not killed it.” (Act 3 Scene 2 Line 15)

When the image of the snake is used again, it is used to represent Banquo. Lady MacBeth and MacBeth see Banquo as the deceitful one. The person who could ruin their well established place. The enemy who could wreck their lives as king and queen in their Garden of Eden. It is easier for MacBeth to kill Banquo because Banquo is the snake; it is not a sin to kill what the snake is representing.

“There the grown serpent lies. The worm that’s fled

Hath nature that in time will venom breed,”

Banquo is again the serpent. The evil that has been justly killed.

MacBeth is placed with both Christian images and wild creatures. MacBeth uses wild creatures to describe the bad feelings and emotions he can’t control.

“O, full of scorpions is my mind” (Act 3 Scene 3 Line 41)

MacBeth has lost control of his mind. This is reflected by the image of a wild creature.

Malcom is the son of Duncan, living within the walls of civilized Christian society.

“To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb

T’appease an angry god.” (Act 4 Scene 3 Line19)

Malcom uses the religious image of a lamb in juxtaposition to a pagan image. “An angry god” instead of “the angry god” implies that Malcom is referencing a polytheistic religion.

Throughout the play the witches are always seen with animals. The animals that Shakespeare surrounds them with are wild creatures, pagan creatures.