Splotches of blood pool at the feet of two Shakespearean characters, one thirsting for power, and the other transfixed at their own actions. They are eaten by the guilt of their actions for the rest of the play, until their ultimate and individual demises. The Macbeth play exposes the endeavours of a couple trying to chase the limelight as they become enveloped into desperate actions, such as the massacre of Duncan, fairly crowned the King of Scotland. Hands and blood are a common theme woven into their storyline, even before their sinful actions are completed. Blood in this play constitutes more than just remorse, but shame that showers both characters. Lady Macbeth calls out to the spirits to, “Make thick [her] blood, Stop up th’ access …show more content…
Soon after their mission is cleared, bloodied Macbeth returns to his wife, telling her that he is a “sorry sight”, and asking if, “all of Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from [his] hand” (II. ii. 78-79). Feelings of shame build up when he confesses to his disturbing appearance. Macbeth wants to get rid of the blood on his hands which symbolizes the tremendous amount of guilt which will never be able to leave him, not even if the god of water tried to wash it all away. This revelation exhibits how the psychological trauma of murder outweighs physical evidence left behind since Macbeth realizes how blood will still rest in the crevices of his hands and remind him of what he did. Later in the play, Lady Macbeth ironically flips her ideology which is shown while she sleepwalks. In Scene 5, she is seen roaming the halls of her home saying: “Out damned spot, out I say” (V. i. 37), followed by “Wash your …show more content…
After Macbeth receives news about becoming the next king from strange witches known as the Weird Sisters, King Duncan visits his castle and is first greeted by Lady Macbeth. He tells the Lady, “Give me your hand. Conduct me to mine host” ( I. vii. 36-38), as a way of thanking her for accommodating him into their home. This event is extremely ironic given the fact that Lady Macbeth had already intricately thought of a plan to murder Duncan. Although this does not show guilt of the Macbeth family, it does weigh more confusion on Macbeth when he questions his hallucinations, asking, “Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?” (II. i. 44-45). The dagger that he envisions is the murder weapon that he uses to kill Duncan later. A split in reality and fantasy is displayed by Macbeth since he cannot distinguish either side, suggesting to the audience that he is not confident in his final decision, if it even is the final decision. Later, a doctor and gentlewoman witness Lady Macbeth sleeping walking and exclaiming, “Here’s the smell of blood still, All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand” (V. i. 53-55). While she examines her own hand and its imaginary blood, the audience can imply that the blood belongs to King Duncan and she still feels guilty of situation she could have controlled. Even though no