"is this a dagger i see before me?"
The dagger is a symbol that connotes a sense of secrecy and concealment, owning to its small and compact nature. As such, it carries with it a sense of intrigue and mystery, and is often associated with the acts of subterfuge and deception.
-In the context of Macbeth's hallucination, the appearance of the dagger thus serves to heighten the sense of ambiguity and uncertainty surrounding his actions.
-It implies Macbeth feels compelled to hide his true intentions from the world, and that he is willing to resort to underhanded means to achieve his goals.
-Moreover, the fact that the dagger is a mere figment of Macbeths imagination suggests that he is grappling with his own sense of morality and struggling to reconcile his actions with conscience.
- he is plagued by shame and guilt, for his violent deed have left him dishonoured and unworthy.
- further heightened by contrasting between the dagger and the sword, which Macbeth had previously wielded as a symbol of courage and heroism. - the presence of the dagger thus serves as a poignant reminder of Macbeth's fall from grace, and the depths to which he sunk in his pursuit for power