“It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood” (3.4.123). The blood that symbolizes violence is an important element in the tragedy Macbeth written by William Shakespeare. The blood is used as an image to show how Macbeth reflects upon his guilty actions. Macbeth’s guilt does not stop him from continuing to murder anyone who may claim the throne before him. Macbeth at the beginning of the play is described as a hero even when he performs major acts of violence. Some important characters in the play consist of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, the three witches, King Duncan and Banquo. Macbeth and Banquo at the beginning of the play are visited by the three witches, who tell them a prophecy of their own. The blood image is potent throughout Macbeth …show more content…
The captain states, “For brave (well he deserves that name), Disdaining Fortune, which with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution (like valor’s minion), carved out his passage...”(1.2.16-19). The captain informs us how brutal and harsh Macbeth can be when fighting on the battlefield. He is loyal and dedicated when fighting and defending his country. Macbeth brandished in his steel suit, battled his way through the forces, and killed Macdonwald, the leader of the rebel forces, fighting against Scotland. Macbeth was known as the bravest soldier of all. As Macbeth states, “We’d jump the life to come. But in these cases, we still have judgment here, that we but teach bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague the inventor. This even-handed justice. Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice to our own lips. He’s here in double trust:” (1.7.7-12). Committing crimes like murder result in punishments by the world. By committing bloody violent crimes like the murder of King Duncan, it only teaches other people it is okay to commit murder and violence. The teaching of bloody instructions will return to the teacher. This forces everyone to drink from the poisoned chalice. The thought of life after death confuses Macbeth. Macbeth wonders whether the act of murder itself has consequences in "the life to come". Macbeth slowly planning and thinking about the …show more content…
Come, let me clutch thee! I have thee not, and yet I see thee still” (2.2.33-35). Macbeth is by himself and sees a floating dagger. He thinks the dagger is inviting him to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth has been pushing Macbeth to kill Duncan from the time that she heard about the prophecy. He sees the dagger even though he does not actually have it. A dagger is a violent weapon and shows the vicious nature of Macbeth. He is imagining a dagger which will be used for bloodshed. In the first act, he is skeptical about killing Duncan. When he sees the dagger, it is the turning point for when he decides he is actually going to kill Duncan. “O, yet I do repent me of my fury that I did kill them” (2.4.106-107). Macbeth said this the morning after he killed Duncan. When others find out about Duncan's death, Macbeth tries to cover up what he did. He kills the servants whom he planted evidence on so it looked like they did it. He killed them before they had the chance to deny the crime. The violence demonstrated by Macbeth in this scene is shown by the killing of the servants. This is the first of many murders that he partakes in. Macbeth is portrayed as vicious through this quote because he does not feel bad for killing the innocent servants. He did it just to cover himself. Macbeth did not think about the servants when killing them, he only
In the third soliloquy Macbeth is still contemplating how he obtains the throne, but now he knows that murder is the only way, yet he fears ‘judgement’ and damnation. We see here that Macbeth has a conscience, and his mind cannot take the simple fact. He begins bringing up lots of excuses as to why he should not do it, but inevitably his ambition gets the better of him.
Blood, in "The Tragedy of Macbeth," provides a strong, visual representation of guilt, and draws the audience's attention towards it, both of which work to communicate powerful messages to the audience. His effective use of symbolism is part of the reason why he is, possibly, the greatest writer in the English language today.
Use of Blood Imagery in Macbeth William Shakespeare uses many techniques to liven up the intensity, and the excitement, of his plays. In the play of MacBeth, Shakespeare uses blood imagery to add a sense of fear, guilt, shame, insanity, and anger to the atmosphere. The use of blood imagery allows the audience to vision in their minds the crime scene where Duncan was murdered, as well as the scene where Lady MacBeth tries to cope with the consequences of her actions. The talk and sight of blood has a great impact on the strength and depth of the use of blood imagery. MacBeth’s soliloquy in Act 2 scene 1 gives the reader a description of how Duncan will be murdered.
Blood as an Image of Honor, Betrayal and Guilt in William Shakespeare's Macbeth Blood is usually interpreted as a sign of horror and wrongdoing; however, in the play Macbeth, Shakespeare associates blood with a variety of atmospheres. Blood imagery begins with the fight against one traitor, the Thane of Cawdor, and ends with the death of another, Macbeth. Although the uses of blood produce different effects, both are used to symbolize death. Shakespeare generates other blood imagery throughout the play to create impressions of honor, betrayal and guilt.
He says, “Better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, than on the torture of the mind”(III.2.46). This quote takes place just before he does the daring deed and shows the reader that he knows it is not the right thing to do before he even goes to do it. His conscience tries to stay strong but he wants all the power as soon as possible so his conscience gives out and he decides that he will kill Duncan. He states before the domino effect of murders starts that he would rather be dead, than to be a guilty murderer. As the character gives into his dream of being the king he goes to do the deed and murder King Duncan. After he commits the murder, Macbeth feels immediate guilt. This is shown in a conversation with his wife yet again. He says, “I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on’t again I dare not”(II.2.56-57). This quote takes place right after the murder of King Duncan but he accidentally left the daggers in the bedroom with the corpse of Duncan. He immediately feels the guilt which is good for his conscience because he realizes he did something he should not have. He says to Lady Macbeth that he can not stand to even see what he has done anymore. Soon after Macbeth’s daring act his guilt begins to haunt him
In Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, Macbeth says, "Blood will have blood…," is implying one of the main themes. Along with this quotation, there are many more quotations throughout the story that support the theme of blood. Macbeth has always been known to be a bloody story, but it is proven so much by the numerous quotations dealing with blood and murder.
Shakespeare used the image of blood to portray the central idea of Macbeth, King Duncan’s murder. The crime is foreshadowed in the second scene of the first act. The king shouts, “ What bloody man is that?” (I,ii,1) He is referring to a soldier coming in from battle. The soldier then explains to King Duncan of Macbeth’s heroics in battle. One assumes that Macbeth is bloody just like the soldier. The soldier describes Macbeth in action “Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel, / Which smoked with bloody execution.” (I,ii,17-18) This line connects Macbeth with killing, and hints at the future.
Blood is also used to display the guilt in Lady Macbeth near the end of the play. Throughout the play, Lady Macbeth is the one who tries to keep Macbeth sane and to keep from breaking.
Shakespeare uses the symbol of blood in MacBeth to represent treason, guilt, murder and death. These ideas are constant throughout the book. There are many examples of blood representing these three ideas in the book.
Macbeth begins on a bloody note: a battle rages from which Banquo and Macbeth survive bloodied, but heroes. They are the generals of Scotland; the country’s future is in their hands and in their blades. However, when one clutches once to such power, it is hard to let go. Macbeth cannot let go. Macbeth also ends on a bloody note: Macbeth’s head is cut off and presented to Malcolm, his replacement. Peace is restored through war; bloody injustice is righted finally with bloody justice. What falls between these two notes—the beginning and end of the tragedy—is a symphony of treachery, deceit, and murder. The images of nature gone awry spread all through the play—from the gardens that have turned to weeds to the horses that have turned to cannibalizing each other—for murder of one’s king is so unnatural that the entire landscape, all that is natural, is affected. Macbeth, by killing Duncan, is himself made an enemy of nature. Macbeth murders sleep, the ultimate embodiment of peace and nature, when he murders Duncan. However, the title character is not as evil as is first suggested; Macbeth is only led to his evil deeds by those who surround him. Macbeth’s only crime may be that he is weak minded and afraid. Macbeth was lured and cajoled into his mistakes by his wife and the weird sisters.
Furthermore Macbeth kills his best friend, but now decides to stoop to even lower means to keep his crown as king. He begin to harm the innocent people of threatening that he will,“Send out more horses. Skirr the country round. Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armor.” (5.3.36-37).Macbeth makes it known to all that he is going to harm all who may cause him to jeopardize his crown and reign as king. On the other hand, if no one desires to do so, Macbeth has no reason to harm the people of Scotland; but, because he is human he is doing whatever it takes to keep his fame and
“.blood will have blood.” , Macbeth is a well known book written by Shakespeare. In it, a once loyal soldier to the king of Scotland starts to seek a way for him to get the crown for himself. In Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses the imagery of blood to represent the guilt of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, demonstrating the feeling of guilt has consequences of severe punishments. The imagery of blood shows Lady Macbeth wants to get rid of her guilt.
Shakespeare employs the powerful symbol of blood to augment the tragic nature of Macbeth, while dually adding dramatic effect to the play. Blood’s recurring symbolism throughout the play constantly reminds the audience of the Macbeth’s irreconcilable guilt. Blood’s symbolism in the murder of Duncan transforms an act of treachery into a ghastly betrayal. The symbolic appearance of blood throughout the intermediate parts of the play maintains the depth of the Macbeth’s unforgiveable guilt. The use of blood as a symbol in the conclusion of the play asserts the perpetuity of the Macbeth’s guilt. Shakespeare’s inclusion of blood as a major symbol in Macbeth creates a compelling tragedy in which the audience is able to comprehend the magnitude of the Macbeth’s irreconcilable guilt.
This demonstrates Macbeth's obsession because it indicates that Macbeth values his power over his friends. His obsession with power causes Macbeth to feel guilty and lose his sanity. Macbeth's guilt and loss of sanity is indicated in the hallucinations he experiences. His first hallucination occurred just before killing King Duncan. Macbeth sees "A dagger of the mind, a false creation" (Act II, Scene I, line 38).
Blood was very evident throughout Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Violence caused blood to drip from the fingers of characters and stain them for the rest of their life. Blood meant various things in the play but it was certainly seen, literally and through hallucinations. Blood in Macbeth is more important when it is imagined by characters but is not actually there because it causes main characters such as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to feel more guilty, becomes a reminder of death, and represents violence and murder. The biggest role of blood in the play was becoming a stigma of guilt for characters including Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.