Blood Imagery in Macbeth

When we, human beings, are about to commit wicked acts, we feel a variety of emotions. One of those emotions is guilt. You may also feel guilt due to moments you chose not to act. The presence of guilt is a driving factor that prevents us from acting irrationally. Citizens of the 16th century possessed these emotions as well, no matter their social standing. The citizens included Shakespeare as well, a poet and playwright of the 16th century, and writer of the play Macbeth. Shakespeare transfers the idea of negative emotions to Macbeth by using blood to symbolize guilt, among other emotions in the protagonists they do not show otherwise. In Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses blood to show the inner-conflict of the

Blood is something that we need to live. So it is clearly understood when Shakespeare uses the symbol of blood to represent murder, betrayal, and death, to show all of the evil that was going on. It is a symbol that was used the most in the play Macbeth, and had different meanings.

Shakespeare’s use of blood imagery builds the initial characterization of Macbeth in Act I as having an ability to display and feel guilt and his hesitance to commit treason with this quote, “We still have judgment here, that we but teach bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague the inventor” (Shakespeare 39). This quote is important to Macbeth’s characterization because he is able to think about Duncan’s murder rationally at this point. He attempts to show Lady Macbeth the consequences of their actions, to no avail. Even though they still commit the murder, this quote demonstrates that at this time in the play, Macbeth is still able to feel guilt over it. Macbeth’s characterization can also be shown in ...

"The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood / is stopped; the very source of it is stopped" (2.3.98-99). This classic quote from Macbeth comes when Macbeth is letting the two sons of Duncan know of their father’s death. Beneath the lies and treachery of this poem is the theme of blood. Blood signifies a great deal to many and is referenced in a great deal of literature throughout history. It signifies life but we have also seeing many accounts where it is spilled and in deep contrast signifies death. It is therefore on both end of the pendulum of our existence. We need blood to live, it is viewed in the most gruesome of scenes and in the worst of times. Blood plays a major role in our existence and on the stage of life it plays a pivotal role as can be seen in the play Macbeth where Shakespeare brought the play to life with his constant use symbolism using blood. Blood is special in this epic because it is used to bring the play to life. Blood although taken for granted by many in life is used to dramatize the many scenes in the play and end up taking on one of the largest roles. In this is seen one of the main themes of this play, that theme is blood. “The fountain of your blood…The very source” These phrases show the vitality of blood to people and to life. When Macbeth is told by three witches that he will become King of Scotland, his mind begins to wander. Slowly but surely evil thoughts begin to cloud the mind of the hero with an epic flaw. His imagination leads him to wild beliefs of kingship, betrayal, and a total loss of trust. As Macbeth’s mind is fettered by evil violent thoughts we continuously see the theme of violence and blood reemerge. The violence in this play is driven by Macbeth’...

Shakespeare’s play Macbeth has a series of motifs or patterns of imagery such as ambition and greed, unnatural deeds versus human nature, females and evil, and hallucinations, however the one pattern of imagery that the reader can recognize everywhere in Macbeth without the word beginning said is blood.Blood reveals the theme of violence and cruelty in Macbeth.Where there is violence there is blood, where there is dishonesty there is blood and even when there is uncertainty there is blood.In the next paragraphs I will recognize how bloodshed results in victory, guilt and finally tragedy and how it reveals the theme of violence and cruelty.

In the play Macbeth , William Shakespeare uses blood as a symbol throughout the whole story to show the different emotions and themes within the context of the play. It’s a bit ironic for someone whose name means “the son of life” that he has to take so many lives instead of being a father to the people he was trying to rule. The play refers to blood in three key points to create great imagery in this play, guilt, honor, and family/ancestry are some strong points that this imagery is used.

Dramatic Use of Images of Blood in William Shakespeare's Macbeth 'Macbeth' is the story of a nobleman, who, while trying to fulfil a prophecy told to him by three witches, murders his king to cause his ascension to the throne of Scotland. After the

Symbols are present in every person’s daily life. Symbols are seen everywhere, whether it is through art, religion, culture, or road signs, they are all around. Blood is a symbol that is seen in art, religion, literature and many other visual forms. Its direct connection to the human body is a significant aspect of its symbolism. People in the medieval period, which was right before Shakespeare’s time, thought that the blood was a person’s life force, and to some extent they were right. Literature uses blood to represent a variety of things such as a character’s desires, emotions and conscience. In the play “Macbeth,” by William Shakespeare, blood symbolizes many things, however, the most significant

So blood shows the decay of Macbeth taking place. In the beginning Shakespeare talks about bloodshed for the country and war. As Macbeth changes and decays, Shakespeare talks about the bad bloodshed and now Macbeth uses murder for all the wrong reasons. Also, Shakespeare shows the change by using blood to show the loss of guilt Macbeth feels in killing people. In conclusion, blood shows the decay of Macbeth.

William Shakespeare uses many techniques to liven the intensity, and the excitement in 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.

In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the motif of blood plays an important factor in the framework of the theme.  A motif is a methodical approach to uncover the true meaning of the play.  Macbeth, the main character in the play, thinks he can unjustly advance to the title of king without any variation of his honest self.  The blood on Macbeth’s hands illustrates the guilt he must carry after plotting against King Duncan and yearning for his crown.

Imagery is the use of symbols to convey an idea or to create a specific atmosphere for the audience. Shakespeare uses imagery in Macbeth often, the most prevalent one, is blood. I believe he uses this as a way to convey guilt, murder, betrayal, treachery and evil, and to symbolize forewarning of events.

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.

In Act 5, Scene 1 of Macbeth, symbolism and imagery are evident through Lady Macbeth. Symbolism is a symbol that represents or stands for an idea, a concrete object, or a person. For example, the dominant symbol in this scene is blood. The blood symbolizes the guilt that Lady Macbeth feels over the murders. She actually confesses to the murders when she sleepwalks and talks in front of her servant and the doctor. Then, as the servant has said, she says all kinds of things that she should not say. Imagery is a picture which appeals to the five senses in order to create an emotional reaction. For example, Lady Macbeth is constantly washing her hands, trying to get rid of the blood, "Here's the smell of the blood still - all the perfumes of Arabia

“...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.