Spencer Ress “Night” is defined as the darkness that occurs between sunset and sunrise. The shadows of the night hide what we wish to remain hidden, just as the dawn can illuminate evil actions or thoughts that took place during the darkness. In Macbeth, the night helps Macbeth and Lady Macbeth commit evil deeds, but then they go mad from guilt. The motif of night helps Shakespeare reveal the larger theme that humans can only keep evil from affecting their conscience for so long, by showing the changing nature of Macbeth and his lady; they first display their desire to welcome the darkness, then suffer mental breakdowns associated with grief. In the early stages of the play, Lady Macbeth exhibits her strong desire for night to come. Lady Macbeth learns that Duncan is coming to their castle. She believes that Macbeth does not have the ability to fulfill the witches' second prophecy. Standing in the castle kitchen, Lady Macbeth calls upon the dark supernatural agents, saying, “Come into the thick night and wrap yourself in the darkest smoke of hell” (1.5.49-50). There...