Use Of Blood In Macbeth

Macbeth Essay

Imagery is the use of symbols to convey an idea, to help us better understand the play or to create a specific mood for the audience. Shakespeare uses imagery in Macbeth often, the most common one used; is blood. This specific word is significant because he uses the word creatively to help with the development of the character Macbeth and the unfortunate events that occur in the play. The first mention of blood seems to establish a sense of honor. The second mention of blood is used to communicate betrayal and devilish behavior. Lastly the third allusion of blood appears to establish a sense of guilt for Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s actions. These mentions of blood help to develop the atmosphere and scene which contribute to the

over all drama of the play.

In the beginning of this play blood resembles honor and victory.

Macbeth's blood saturated sword after the battle portrays him as a brave hero for his bravery in killing the enemy. He is known as "Brave Macbeth" to everyone even Duncan, the King. For instance, the first example is "What bloody man is that?" (1.2 1 Shakespeare). This is the opening words of the play's second scene, when King Duncan asks about Macbeth to his sergeant. The sergeant then tells the story of Macbeth's heroic victories over Macdonwald and the King of Norway. The sergeant's telling of the story is in itself heroic, because he talks about his loss of blood and how it has made him weak. His blood and his heroism seem to make Macbeth look like a hero to the character. The significance of blood at the beginning of the play earns Macbeth’s respect from not only the characters, but also the

audience.

The next example displaying the importance of blood is blood before Duncan's murder. Macbeth had a terrible vision of a dagger floating in front of him, Macbeth describes this very detailed, “…and on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, / Which was not so before. There's no such thing: / It is the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes” (2.1.46-49 Shakespeare). The blood imagery in this text refers to betrayal and murder. This is a comparison to what blood symbolized in the beginning of the play. Blood at the beginning was seen as a positive quality, but is now associated with the darkness of devilish behaviour. This imagery also shows the beginning of Macbeth's character from his transformation of nobility and bravery to treachery and evilness.

The last allusion of blood imagery showing betrayal is when after Macbeth murders Duncan.

Macbeth now begins to realize the severity of his crime, and the consequences that he will face. For instance, when Macbeth tries to wash Duncan's ‘blood’ off his hands, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand? No; this hand will rather / The multitudinous seas incarnadine, / Making the green one red." (2.2 71-75 Shakespeare) This passage illustrates the act of murder has completely changed how the audience portrays Macbeth's character. No longer does the blood symbolize an image of ambition and heroism; it now symbolizes guilt, remorse, and an entry into the gates of hell from which no one can return. The gates of hell which he cannot return from symbolize that once the murder of Duncan has been committed he cannot undo his actions. This murder of Duncan shows the true colours of Macbeth and how he can go and kill his good friend just because he was pressured by his Lady Macbeth. In this passage Macbeth is saying that not even all the water in the ocean will wash the blood off his hands, he is beginning to realize the affects of his actions, and that he has done something truly evil. Like her husband, the once ambitious Lady Macbeth comes to realizes the significance of involving herself in the murder of Duncan, and the severe consequences it will bring. Lady Macbeth is being haunted by nightmares, hallucinations’, she also sleepwalks through her corridor

and cries, "What, will these hands ne'er be clean?…Here's the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of / Arabia will not sweeten this little hand." (5.1 40,46-47 Shakespeare) The blood imagery shows Lady Macbeth's guilt over Duncan's murder. She has come to the point where she cannot live her life normally anymore, all she can think about is the crime she has committed. Her constant hallucinations of the blood on her hands and her never ending efforts to wash off the ‘blood’ demonstrate that the agony of having guilty feelings, which in the end causes her to go insane. Further in the book it is revealed that the guilt strains on her mind to the point where Lady Macbeth then commits suicide.

Macbeth has a crazy obsession with being the King and owning the throne that he will be forced to kill more and more people in order to regain control of the throne. Macbeth has no no chance of redemption; he has permanently associated himself with the power of evil. In the play's final scene, Macduff approaches Macbeth to talk about the murders of his children and his wife because of Macbeth, and to see Malcolm established as the new King. When Malcolm sees Macbeth, he says, "I have no words: / My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain / Than terms can give thee out!" (5.8 9-10 Shakespeare) Shakespeare uses this final blood imagery to finalize the audience's understanding of Macbeth's character. The audience now has seen the complete transformation of Macbeth. Macbeth at first is seen as noble, and brave in battle, then to becoming evil, ambitious, and treacherous during Duncan's murder. Macbeth then has feelings of remorse for his crime and he doesn’t know what to do. He then realizes that he will be punished for his sins and he can no longer kill people because there is no one left to murder. These mentions of blood help to develop the atmosphere and scene which contribute to the over all drama of the play.
By: Jessica Francey