Imagery of Blood, Light and Clothing in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

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Imagery of Blood, Light and Clothing in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Imagery, the art of making images, the product of imagination (Merriam-

Webster). Shakespeare uses many forms of imagery in his writing of Macbeth. Three main

forms of imagery in this play are blood, light and darkness, and clothing. Within each form

of this imagery Shakespeare incorporates symbols that the reader must understand if they

are to interpret either the passage or the play as a whole.

In Macbeth blood symbolizes many things. We have all known blood to represent

life, death, and often injury. In the play, Shakespeare uses blood to represent treason,

guilt, murder, and death. Shakespeare uses the word blood many times throughout

Macbeth. The best way to describe how the image of blood changes throughout the play is

by following the character changes in Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth. The first

reference to blood is on pg.113 Act I scene ii, when Duncan states "What bloody man is

that?" The symbolism of blood in this quote is that of honor. This quote is symbolic of the

fighter who h...

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