Blood In Macbeth Essay

Both the original adaptations of Macbeth and the Bell Shakespeare production, blood and clothing are used to emphasise 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 will not wash away. Both interpretations maintain the hierarchy of the characters through their clothing, contrastingly the Bell production has actors in modern clothing. Fate also ties into this, where predictions of the character’s fate are questioned through the type of clothing they should be wearing. Evidence for both versions of the play will be provided to support that blood symbolises guilt and that the character's relationship …show more content…

There are several examples of characters expressing their guilt, and how blood can not be washed away; like their guilt can not be washed away. For instance, after killing King Duncan, Macbeth talks about how the blood on his hands will not wash away easily, stating “Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?”, supports this point. In act 3 scene 4, Macbeth also highlights this through "I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more” . Implying by killing King Duncan, he should submit to the guilt as he has literally and metaphorically steeped in blood, he can not return to his former self. Lady Macbeth shows her guilt when she delivers her soliloquy in act 5 scene 1 in which she states, “Out, damned spot!..”, this refers to when she smeared the blood all over the guards and planted the daggers. It also demonstrates the guilt she feels as she sees blood on her hands when there is not any, this is symbolic of her …show more content…

The contrast is that the Bell Shakespeare production uses modern clothing. An example of this is King Duncan wearing a suit to show his position in society as someone of importance, maintaining the idea of a hierarchy. Whereas other characters such as, Seyton (Macbeth's servant) who is in a low position in society would not wear fancy clothing, portrayed through jeans and a T-shirt. In Act 1 scene 3 Banquo observes Macbeth’s uneasiness in adjusting to this new role of Thane as he states, “New honours come upon him, like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould, but with the aid of use.” Macbeth himself also struggles to accept being dressed in a Thane's clothing because he does not feel like he owns the title. This further illustrates that Macbeth is suspicious of the witches’ predictions and is not sure about his fate to have these titles. Consequently, in both productions, clothing represents the character's fate, especially