What does 'dark strangles the night' in Macbeth mean?

Question

What does 'dark strangles the night' in Macbeth mean?

Answer 1

it seems as if you have gotten the quote completely wrong:

"Ah, good father,

Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,

Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,

And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:

Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,

That darkness does the face of earth entomb,

When living light should kiss it?"

shakespeare is personifying night, saying that it is so dark and thick and forboding, that it's essence powers out the light from their lamp. aka - it's really dark and evil tonight even though it should be daylight outside.