In both the original adaptations of Macbeth and the in Bell Shakespeare production, blood and clothing are used to emphasise the important themes of guilt and fate. Both versions use blood in similar ways to symbolise guilt. Characters such as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth talk about the blood on their hands as a type of guilt that for them will not wash away. Both interpretations maintain the hierarchy of the characters through their clothing but the Bell production has actors in modern clothing. Fate correlates into this where predictions of the characters fate are questioned through the type of clothing that they should or should not wear. By examining both versions of the play, examples will be presented that blood symbolises guilt and that …show more content…
The following events in the modern adaptation of Macbeth is similar to the original play killing king Duncan and Killing Banquo. Through blood, important moments are highlighted, in which when the characters went through pain and suffering. The following events in the modern adaptation of Macbeth are similar to the original play killing king Duncan and killing Banquo. Later in act 5 scene 1, Lady Macbeth says “Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh !” this furthermore demonstrates how guilty she feels as she smells blood on her hands when there is not any. Macbeth arranges to kill Banquo by hiring killers, back at the dinner Macbeth is offered to take a seat at the table but he is unable to as he sees Banquo’s ghost in his seat. He is the only one who sees Banquo's ghost because of his overwhelming guilt to knowing that he had his best friend …show more content…
Clothing in both versions of the play is used convey both guilt and fate, this is evident when Macbeth is given the title of Thane. There are several references throughout Macbeth to a character’s readiness or suitability for their social position based on clothing and associated imagery. This is demonstrated when Macbeth is told of his appointment as Thane of Cawdor. He questions his suitability of to wear the clothes of this role. Macbeth may not believe that it is his fate to be Thane but his fate to be king. As Macbeth is being named Thane of Cawdor he asks ‘Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?’. Other characters observe that it's not Macbeth's fate to be King and those clothes are not appropriate for him. One of the characters Angus comments that Macbeth's kingly "title" is ill-fitting and hangs on him rather loosely, "like a giant's robe / Upon a dwarfish thief". There is also a suggestion here that Macbeth is being a hypocrite and is cloaking his true nature under a
The image and scent of blood symbolizes the unending guilt of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The blood on their hands represents the inability to annul the murder from their memories. While sleepwalking, Lady Macbeth was aggravated with own hands. She was seen muttering, “Out damned spot! Out, I say!” (V,I,39) This proves that her evil deed in still on her conscience.
In the first Act of Macbeth, Shakespeare uses loose clothing as a symbol of changing times. After Macbeth defeats Macdonwald, a traitor, he becomes the new Thane of Cawdor. Once he accepts his new title, he removes his fighting armor and replaces it with robes. He asks the people present, “Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?” (1.4.108-9). Macbeth infers that the clothes of the previous Thane of Cawdor, the traitor, do not fit him. Shakespeare uses this symbolism throughout the play to show how Macbeth evolves into a greedy and murderous monster. Toward the final scenes of the play, Macbeth realizes what he has become. While Macbeth requests to be put into his armor for his last battle, Angus makes a comment about him to Menteith, Caithness, and Lennox, “Those he commands move only in command, nothing in love. Now does he feel his title hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief” (5.2.19-22). Angus says that anyone who follows Macbeth does so only out of command to do so, not out of love. He also remarks that the title of “King” does not fit Macbeth, but rather it hangs around him like a dwarf in a giant’s clothing. Shakespeare shows the transformations of Macbeth simply through what he we...
“O! yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them.” (2.3.103-104). Macbeth was very fearful that the servants would remember what had happened to Duncan if they were still alive, even though Macbeth set them up to make them appear guilty. Again, near the end of the play, Macbeth is having more and more hallucinations now and they are happening more frequency, “It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood” (3.4.121). At the inauguration dinner for Macbeth being crowned king, Banquo’s ghost sits in the current King’s chair and Macbeth beings to become agitated and loses his composure around the Thanes and other Lords; at that time, Macbeth feels pressured by the sins he has committed in the past.
In Macbeth, William Shakespeare portrays Macbeth’s dishonorable political advancement to his downfall, as the acquisition of foreseen titles ends in his execution. While Scotland is fearful of the invading forces, Macbeth’s valor in the battle with traitors secures him the positions of Thane of Cawdor, as well as Thane of Glamis. Macbeth is a character of bravery and courage. In the beginning, one believes that Macbeth is a stable, rational individual, although when Macbeth discovers the weird sisters’ forecasts that he will continue to obtain ranks, an insane character emerges from within. Macbeth’s actions are based upon motivation and truly evoke an imbalance in his mind.
Following this murder, Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost at the banquet. He is filled with feelings of regret and, as a result of his troubled mind, sees Banquo's ghost.
The seventeenth-century play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, employs blood as a powerful symbol to amplify the tragic nature of the work. Prior to, and immediately following Duncan’s death, blood magnifies the treachery of Macbeth’s murderous act. Throughout the play, Blood constantly reminds the audience of the ruthless means the Macbeths implement to gain the crown. In the culmination of the play, blood symbolizes the irreconcilable guilt that will haunt the Macbeths for the duration of their lives. Blood’s ubiquitous symbolism emphasizes the constant guilt felt by the Macbeths in their tragic pursuit of the monarchy.
The longest running tradition in medicine, bloodletting, was a widely accepted practice with a three-thousand year-old history from the ancient Egyptians to the late 19th century. At that time, physicians thought that disease was a curse caused by the supernatural. It was a common idea that blood carried the vital force of the body and was the seat of the soul. Anything from body weaknesses to insanity were attributed to a defect in this vital fluid. Bloodletting was a method for balancing other fluids in the body and cleansing it of impurities. Shakespeare takes the same knowledge of blood and applies it to “Macbeth” in which the connotations not only foretell one’s glory but also one’s guilt.
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.
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.
“.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.
There are a variety of fluids in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth such as milk, water and blood. Milk quenches one’s thirst, whereas blood pours out of a person. Water is used to wash stains away, whereas blood can taint a person. The blood image is very potent throughout Macbeth and reinforces the major themes of bravery, guilt, and violence evoked by the three witches.
This is first shown in Act 2 where Macbeth begins his monologue, “I see thee still, And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There’s no such thing.” (II I 46-48) Before reuniting with Lady Macbeth, Macbeth sees a bloody dagger floating in the air. The dagger appears shortly before Macbeth proceeds to murder Duncan. The dagger in this instance is used to symbolize Macbeth’s hesitation as at this point in time, Macbeth could have chosen to turn back and abandon his pursuit to becoming king. Macbeth chose to persist however, and the blood covering the dagger was a prognostication of the crime he would soon commit. Shakespeare imparts here that emotions like hesitation are meant to be pondered over, not skimmed over. Macbeth took reckless actions, and his abysmal situation reflects that. Macbeth’s inner-conflict is further shown in Act 4 where he states, “For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me And points at them for his.” (IV I 129-130) Macbeth is visibly shaken by the sudden appearance of a bloody Banquo. The appearance of Banquo is due to the three witches summoning him by ceremony, much to Macbeth’s dismay. Macbeth’s petrified reaction tells of how he is still constantly tormented by his murdering of Banquo. Macbeth begins to shout and command for Banquo to disappear. The summoning of Banquo continues to tell of Macbeth’s human nature
In Shakespeare's Macbeth, clothing imagery represents the titles that Macbeth wears. Macbeth receives two new titles throughout the play; one is earned and the other stolen. The first, Thane of Cawdor, is rightfully his because he earned it. The second, King of Scotland, is a stolen title that does not fit him honestly. Macbeth's clothing in the play symbolizes both of the titles that he acquires.
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.
Clothing is used frequently as an image in Macbeth to help display Macbeth’s character. Clothing displays that Macbeth is trying to hide the evil inside and his own guilt from others. Shakespeare accentuates the contrast between Macbeth’s true emotions and what he displays to others in an attempt to hide his emotions. Macbeth feels uncomfortable wearing the clothes he does, because he knows that they do not represent his true self; they are a facade. Macbeth wears robes that do not belong to him, and this symbol is continuously represented throughout the play. Macbeth feels uncomfortable in the clothes, “New honours come upon him, like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould, but with aid of use” (A1, S3). Shakespeare really emphasizes that Macbeth is wearing an undeserved dignity, and it is this ironic and contrasting point that helps to explain Macbeth’s true inner character.