IMAGERY IN MACBETH

A detailed Summary of IMAGERY IN MACBETH

In all of Shakespeare's plays he uses many forms of imagery. In the play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare applies the imagery of blood and water, which are symbolized in the major themes of the play. Images of blood and water are also mainly expressed together as one main symbolic image of several themes. Each detail of imagery contains an important symbol related to the major themes of the novel. "Critics approach Macbeth as a study of various themes: treachery, fear, guilt, and evil." (Nostbakken 19). Water and blood together symbolize the themes of horror, fear, death, honor, treason, guilt and evil as well. "Fear and horror is due to the subtle but definite and repeat action of this imagery upon our mind." (Spurgeon 335). These themes are all symbolized by the constant imagery of blood and water.

"Macbeth is about blood." (Muir 273). Blood is mentioned often in the play and most times in reference to murder or treason. Shakespeare uses the symbol of blood to represent treason, murder and death. "Every act of blood is driven by fear." (Bloom 41). Blood is the most important imagery of Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. "The theme of Macbeth is reinforced by the imagery of blood." (Von Doren 338). Shakespeare men

tions the word blood, or different forms of it often in the play. The best way to describe how the image of blood changes throughout the play is by following the character changes in Macbeth. First, Macbeth is a brave and honored soldier, but as the play progresses, Macbeth becomes identified with death and bloodshed, along with showing his guilt in different forms.

The same symbol of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's hateful actions not being washed away is brought out very clearly again. "Now does he feel his secret murders sticking on his hands" (Shakespeare 5.2.17-18). Angus knows very well that the murders could not just simply be forgotten. He also knows that Macbeth will, in time get what he deserves. He realizes that Macbeth can no more escape his fate than relieve his guilt by washing the blood away. "A little water clears us of this deed" (Shakespeare 2.2.66). Lady Macbeth believes that as soon as Duncan's blood is physically removed from their hands that their consciences would be cleansed as well. She urges Macbeth, at all costs, not to think of the murder or they will be driven mad, "These deeds must not be thought After these ways: so, it will make us mad" (Shakespeare 2.2.34-35). Ironically, Lady Macbeth is the one with obsessive thoughts of Duncan's murder and these thoughts result in a mental collapse that ends in her suicide. The bloody hand reappears when Lady Macbeth hallucinates about trying to clean her hands of Duncan's blood. She says "Out, damned spot! out I say! ...Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" (Shakespeare 5.1.36-41). Lady Macbeth becomes overcome with grief and is driven mad. She tries to clear the imaginary blood off her hands but all her efforts are in vain, "What! will these hands ne'er be clean?" (Shakespeare 5.1.44). When she believes that she has succeeded in ridding herself of the stains of blood, she smells the odor of blood and comes to the inevitable conclusion that the crime can never be forgotten, "Here's the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh! oh!" (Shakespeare 5.1.51-53). "The guilt of Duncan's gruesome murder, although more present in Macbeth originally, grows in Lady Macbeth until she begins having the same deranged visions of her hands getting bloodier and bloodier and not ever coming clean regardless of how much she washes them" (Muir 273).

There are constan

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Approximate Word count = 1641
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English