Darkness Theatrically

The word darkness has figurative meaning that far surpasses its literal meaning. Darkness is the lack of light in a particular environment, but to Shakespeare and many other playwrights it signifies so much more. The evils that lurk in the night, the lack of foresight into the future, the distortion of an otherwise clear vision, or the loss of light as life slips into death; are some examples of how authors and playwrights might use …

…the presence of an antagonist are some causes for why darkness might fall upon a situation. The making of a play is so different from simply writing a book. The writer tries to influence the audience through words as actors evoke emotion through action and emphasis. The use of light, or more precisely the lack of it, is one particular way in which the performers and writers induce other people to buy into the plot.