...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...
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...What is blood? It courses through our veins, and keeps our body alive. But when it is exposed it represents murder, agony and death. In “Macbeth” by shakespeare, blood is a recurring image in multiple parts of the story, and constantly is a major factor in the prophecy of Macbeth. Although the blood is mainly a motif that is only around when murders and death is being talked about, it still remains a key element in the making of macbeth as a character and hiding the murder from his kinsman. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth begin their murderous and troubling journey, blood starts to symbolize their guilt, and they both start to think that the crimes they commited have permanently stained them in a way that cannot be cleaned off. Soon after Macbeth...
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...Blood itself, the color, the sense of smell, and the significance — is vital to life and alarming to see. The constant occurrence of blood in Macbeth, continuously reminds the audiences about how severe the effects of the characters actions are. The play begins with the battle between the Scots and the Norwegian invaders, which was traumatic (Act 1, scene 2). As Macbeth and his wife start their deadly excursion, blood comes to signify their guilt. They feel their crimes of murder have stained them in a way that cannot be washed clean. As Macbeth says, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” (2.2.78-79). During this scene Macbeth sobs after he has murdered Duncan, even as his wife criticized him and tells him a little...
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...Towards the end of the play Macbeth has fully transformed into a bloodthirsty tyrant. However, he realizes that he has transformed from a hero to a tyrant due to negative manipulation of Lady Macbeth. This is evident when blood is used to symbolise guilt as Macbeth states “am in blood stepp’d in so far, that, should I wade no more returning were as tedious as go o’er” This displays how he has acknowledged his actions and desire to travel back in time when he hasn’t committed murder, but he “stepped in so far” that there is no way of escaping from guilt. This symbolism help us comprehend how Macbeth is not a vile man but he is allured by evil as he once used to be a man that was idolised. Despite his realization of consequences of his actions, there is no way of returning as he must continue killing inorder to reserve what he has earned....
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...same outcome. Blood. The gorey substance seeps out of the victim’s body and slowly invades his or her clothing only to create a stain that will never go away. This stain is not only visible on the victim’s clothing, but it is also constantly present on the conscience of the perpetrator and plagues his mind like a fast-spreading disease that cannot be stopped. It has been used as a symbol across countless literary works throughout history, and Shakespeare is no stranger to the concept. From bloody daggers to bloody hands, William Shakespeare’s tragic play Macbeth expresses...
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...In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the frequent chronicle of the use of blood happens to be the most significant motif and prevails against any other motif in regards to having a unique ability to reveal truth about a character in every realm. In this tragedy, blood is used to show change in the character Macbeth from a great war hero, an outstanding leader, and a man worthy of respect and honor, to him becoming nothing more than a tyrannical, evil, hollow shell of a human being. This morbid transformation occurs swiftly from beginning to end, and shines a holy, vivid light on the dark and stormy heart of Macbeth each step of the way. Initially, blood is used to represent Macbeth’s deceit and literal back stabbing of the guards of King Duncan, as well...
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...Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses blood, darkness, and death to stimulate a disturbing sense of violence as well as the dark consequences following such actions. Blood, suggesting a heavy loss of life, serves as a constant reminder of the fear existing between characters or even within an individual’s own consciousness. In addition, violence heavily clings to the absence of light because the familiar darkness still eludes to a sense of unrecognizable mysteries. Lastly, the different forms of evil misconduct often lead to death among different characters, which continues to further promote the overpowering capabilities of violence. In summary, Shakespeare’s recurring use of blood, darkness, and death promotes awareness of the dangers involved...
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...In the play of Macbeth, it displays multiple forms of symbolism, one most used symbol is blood. In Macbeth, blood symbolizes mainly murder and guilt but it is used in different ways and interpret different meanings. The blood characterizes Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. During the play, Macbeth murdered a number of people. Macdonwald was the Thane of Cawdor and Macbeth decided to kill him because he wanted to be awarded the title of being the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth had a hunger for being superior to everyone, it was something he strived for. King Duncan made his son Malcolm successor which boiled up Macbeth’s anger and resulted to him killing Duncan. The three witches told him that he would most likely become king for doing so but he believed...
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...implications of blood and its effects in his play Macbeth to show the cycle of violence that repeats throughout the play. Shakespeare first introduces the character of Macbeth as a brave hero. In the first act messengers tell Duncan about Macbeth’s bravery in war. The bloody images used in this act show Macbeth as the hero of war who should be rewarded for his bravery. Thoughts of heroism and bravery fade quickly as plans to murder Duncan for Macbeth’s benefit and power gain arise. Blood quickly changes to a motif of guilt and fear because of the murder that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have committed. Surprisingly Macbeth keeps killing to calm his fear but sheds more blood in the process. The killings result in meeting the unnatural and bloody Macduff, who wants revenge and ends the cycle of violence....
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...Blood as a Correspondent to Guilt William Shakespeare has written many plays throughout his life. His words are eloquent, his characters are dramatic, and his style is treasured. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, blood is a reoccurring symbol. Shakespeare made the connection between blood and guilt; blood flows through our veins all around our body, it is a part of us. Even though guilt is not physically a part of us, we create it in ourselves. Blood is the physical representation of guilt as it symbolizes the irreversible effects of murder on the human mind. Guilt is the downfall of order and sanity. Even before murder, guilt consumes Macbeth’s mind causing him to hallucinate. Macbeth sees “gouts of blood” (II.1.46) on this “dagger of [his] mind” (II.1.38) as he is walking towards Duncan’s chamber to murder Duncan. Macbeth, at first, thinks the dagger is “a false creation, /Proceeding from [his] heat-oppressed brain” (II.1.38/39), but as he continues down the hall he then starts to feel it is not his sick brain, but it is the “bloody business” (II.1.49) of murder which causes this dagger to appear. This reveals that Macbeth is already emotionally unstable from Duncan’s murder even before one drop of blood is spilt from his body. Furthermore, Macbeth’s state of mind after the killing was so exceedingly erratic due to the guilt he felt that he forgets to frame the guards for the murder. Macbeth returns to Lady Macbeth, from Duncan’s room, to let her know that he has “done...
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...Shakespeare Macbeth, darkness, blood, supernatural and animals imagery occurred to indicate the evil deeds and development of the relations of the characters. Macbeth kills the king Duncan, the morning is dark after the night of King Duncan murder and Lady Macbeth’s hands full of blood which show their relation to the evil side of the world. Furthermore, Macbeth hallucinating a dagger and supernatural abilities of the witches and animals attacking each other which also indicate the evil side in the events that has occurs. Motif is used in the play to manipulate the characters emotions and indicate their...
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...when we ignore our feelings of guilt, it can lead to the destruction of our conscience. In his play Macbeth, Shakespeare incorporates his idea of guilt into images for the audience. Blood and water are two symbols in Macbeth that function as keys to unlock the hidden message of the effects of guilt. Blood is used to remind Macbeth and Lady Macbeth of their violent actions, while water represents a way to cleanse their minds of the remorse they feel. Shakespeare’s use of blood and water are a chilling reminder of the power that guilt may have on people or how a person might overcome guilt, but become emotionally dead. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are two characters that are responsible for the bloody actions that occur in Macbeth. Blood is a reoccurring image that travels with the characters, not only on their hands, but in their minds. Wherever violence takes place in the play, blood is shown on the characters immediately after the crime. When Macbeth is involved in one of these crimes and kills Duncan, he soon regrets what he has done. But the blood on his hands shows the evidence of the act and that it can’t be undone. Lady Macbeth suggests to get rid of the evidence by putting the blood on the guards so “it must seem their guilt” (2.2.73). The symbol of blood can be seen as “the image of death” (Holloway 108). It represents the violence, since Macbeth says, “blood will have blood” (3.4.153). The characters want to escape their feelings of guilt and forget the murder they have...
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...Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth is a story of power and destruction. The two main characters, Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, are driven by ambition to commit evil actions. Lady Macbeth, a more ambitious person than her husband plots to have her husband murder the king of Scotland so that he can take the throne. Macbeth commits more murders to protect his throne, all the while becoming sick with guilt and paranoia. The guilt that engulfs him and his wife lead to their eventual madness. Blood appears everywhere throughout the work and symbolizes many things. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare creates a sinister mood with blood imagery, which creates suspense and helps to resolve the story. Shakespeare uses blood imagery in Act One of Macbeth to create suspense. The opening battle of the story, between Scotland and the Norwegian invaders uses blood imagery to symbolize honor and bravery. Blood symbolizes bravery because the blood spilled is the blood of traitors and not noble men. The sergeant praises Macbeth for the murder of a traitor, as the king praises the sergeant for his bravery on the battle field. "So well thy words become thee as thy wounds, They smack of honor both." As Macbeth and his wife plot the murder of Duncan, they plan to smear the blood of the king on his chamberlains. They hope the blood will make the chamberlains appear guilty. Macbeth knows, though, that he cannot hide his guilt from himself. He calls the plans"bloody instructions, which...
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...reader is able to relate to Poe’s character on at least one level. Similarly in Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are illustrated as paralleling one another’s feelings of guilt and anguish because of their mutual crimes. These emotions are seen through Shakespeare’s symbolism of blood, sleeplessness and darkness. Macbeth’s guilt is most notably seen by his references to the blood of those he killed. Shakespeare uses this symbol to illustrate how the conscience weighs on Macbeth’s thoughts. When Macbeth imagines to see blood covering his hands, he cries, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?” (2.2.57-59). The immense guilt, already beginning to trouble Macbeth’s conscience, is set off by the enormity of the deed he has committed against King Duncan. He feels as though nothing can wash away this crime, and goes on to say that the blood on his hands would even turn all the oceans red. Also, during the battle as Macbeth sees Macduff coming towards him in his castle, Macbeth yells, “Get back thee. My soul is too much charged / With the blood of thine already” (5.7.5-6). Macbeth knows what will happen when they fight, and he does not want to deal with any more of the guilt. The blood of Macduff’s family is hanging on Macbeth’s conscience, and the thought of suffering even more makes Macbeth nervous. Shakespeare skillfully uses blood to make it the easiest symbol to recognize...
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...THEMES OF GUILT – MACBETH In the story of Macbeth, guilt is an important theme due to the fact that it unstiffens Macbeth’s ambition and coldness. His brutality is balanced by his guilt, a trait that enables the audience to identify with Macbeth throughout the play despite his oppressiveness. MACBETH AND LADY MACBETH: The two main characters who experience extreme feelings of guilt throughout the play are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth’s guilt is caused by the ghosts of those who he murdered and of the consequences that follow their murders. For example, Macbeth is visited by the ghost of Banquo, who he murdered to protect his secret. The apparition embodies Macbeth’s guilt and therefore causes Macbeth to nearly reveal the truth about King Duncan’s murder. Macbeth’s guilt prevents him from enjoying his gain of royalty but it does not stop him from committing more than 1 murders. This perhaps indicates a lack of morality, which is Macbeth’s key character flaw. Lady Macbeth on the overhand is driven crazy from the adrenaline of watching her husband commit such murders and is the force behind his actions. Unlike Macbeth’s...
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