The motif of blood comes up so often in this play that it almost begins to be a dominating theme. Macbeth shows that the word blood can have two contrary meanings, hence from showing honor to showing deceit, treachery, and
Macbeth quotes, “will it not be received/ When we have mark’d with blood those sleepy two/ Of his own chamber and used their very daggers/ That they have done’t? (1.7.75-79), stating that blood is beginning to literally represent guilt, rather then symbolically. By killing Duncan with the guard’s weapons and then smearing blood all over them, Macbeth is framing them, making them guilty by using Duncan’s blood. This quote also depicts Macbeth’s transition from a morally correct ruler to a corrupt and vicious murderer. Before hearing the witch’s prophecy, he was a virtuous and ethical person, but after hearing that he is destined for kingship, he goes on a murderous rampage to gain political power, completely disregarding his previous decency.
Macbeth In one of his most famous play, Macbeth, Shakespeare uses blood as a symbol that appears during many important scenes and represents quite a few things throughout the play, such as valor, fear, guilt, and justice. The role of blood is developed until it becomes not only a dominating theme but wholly integrated within the plot. It changes as the characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, change in the play. Neither Macbeth nor Lady Macbeth can escape the symbol of blood. Blood is personified in a wide spectrum of feelings and outcomes.
Throughout the play Macbeth the use of blood as both a symbol and more generally as a theme changes as Macbeth transforms from a loyal, brave lord into a cowardly and brutal tyrant. There is no place in the play in which Macbeth can escape blood in any of appearances; from the physical descriptions of blood to its use as a metaphor for guilt to even lineage. The first time that blood is seen in Macbeth it represents the courage of those who fought the rebels, especially brave Macbeth. This comparison of blood with valor does not last for long, for Macbeth rapidly transforms and all of his former qualities are left behind, especially courage and honor. As a result, “blood” too shifts to represent his guilt.
It may be hard to read Shakespeare for some, but for others who can take the time and understand the “ingredients” that it took to create this amazing play, love it and bask in it. Red, sticky, and warm. Three words that make a reader think of blood. Macbeth is said to be Shakespeare’s bloodiest play, with blood being used approximately a hundred times throughout the play. Blood means death, death means drama.
Her hallucination of the blood on her hands and her constant efforts to wash it off shows the suffering of having a guilty conscience, which is causing her to go insane. We later find out that she commits suicide due to it. The purpose of blood changes for the last time to a symbol of freedom when Macduff says, "I have no words: / My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain / Than terms can give thee out!" (Act 5, Scene 8, Lines 9-10) and then goes on to slay Macbeth. After analyzing all the different uses of blood throughout the book you can see how Shakespeare uses “blood” to show the change and transformation of characters.
Whether noble or insidious, blood is always used to describe the character of Macbeth. In the opening of the play, the audience is greeted with the bloody battle between the forces of Macbeth and Banquo against the invading armies of Norway and the treacherous Macdownwald. "What bloody main is that?" (Act 1, Scene 2, line 1) Here, Shakespeare uses blood to symbolize the courage and valor of defending one's country. Though Macbeth's actions are bloody, they are inherently good; they are the result of putting down a rebellion.
Blood as a Symbol in Shakespeare’s Macbeth In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, blood is a symbol consistently used to represent many different meanings including betrayal, guilt and honour. The powerful symbol of blood changes throughout the play as the plot unfolds. Guilt is one of the more prevalent symbols of blood used in Macbeth. One of the first examples of this is when Lady Macbeth asks the witches to be unsexed. She says “and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty!
Macbeth's character evolves from a noble war hero to a violent individual, who will willingly kill in order to gain ...humans play out our lives. Because of Duncan's murder, the stage is bloody and the heavens are angry. These are some incidents of blood in Macbeth. In the article by Internet Source 1, the author tells us how Duncan s blood has no effect on Lady Macbeth and that she is pour evil. While Macbeth has horrifying visions, Lady Macbeth seems cool and literal minded.
The first mention of blood is by King Duncan "What blood is that?" The captain responds to Duncan that it is from Macbeth's sword which is "smoked with bloody execution". The blood on the sword signifies courageous fighting by a brave soldier, the blood implies the honour that Macbeth earns in the battle for his King. After listening to the "three witches" the use of blood imagery suggests blood being symbolistic of deep evil, treachery and murder. The use of the blood imagery allows the audience to see the gruesome death of King Duncan "I see thee still, and on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, which was not so before."