Macbeth

A detailed Summary of Macbeth

The Tragedy of Macbeth is plagued with the images that coincide with its many themes. Although there is really no central theme and all seem to intermingle, it would be extremely difficult to research the play in its entirety. Therefore, I've chosen to focus my study towards the recurring image of blood and how it's presence affected both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and the eventual outcome of the play.

The blood images in the play had different effects on the two. But perhaps the most noticeably affected person would be Lady Macbeth. It was after the death of Duncan that most of the repercussions took place, however, she began making references to blood even before the murder. In her pleading to the spirits, she prayed, "Make thick my blood (Act I.Scene v.line 43)" in order that she may not feel any "remorse" by her future action. She sees her thin blood as a weakness in her character and wishes it to be richer (thicker) with the qualities of courage, bravery and even emotional strength which that of a man might have. For a time these demands seemed as if they had actually been answered. Not even after the murder of Duncan or Banquo did she lose her composure, in fact, she actually kept her husb

It will have blood, they say: blood will have blood. Stones have been known to move and trees to speak; Augurs and understood relations have by maggot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth The secret'st man of blood. What is the night (III.iv.122-126)?

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Macbeth has reached the limits of human experience. All he has left is contempt. The very concept of man has crumbled to pieces and there is nothing left. The end of Macbeth, like the end of Troilus and Cressida, or King Lear, produces no catharsis. Suicide is either protest, or an admission of guilt. Macbeth does not feel guilty, and there is nothing for him to protest about. All he can do before he dies is to drag with him into nothingness as many living beings as possible. This is the last consequence of the world's absurdity. Macbeth is still unable to blow the world up. But he can go on

The blood has directly affected Macbeth not to insanity but to the point where he has no care for human life at all. He orders of innocent women and children and thinks absolutely nothing of it. Macbeth's affected state is perhaps put best in the words of Jan Kott in her book Shakespeare Our Contemporary.

time to do't. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our pow'r to accompt? Yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him (V.i.34-39)?

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lady Macbeth, Duncan Banquo, Tragedy Macbeth, King Lear, Act IScene, Contemporary Macbeth, Jan Kott, lady macbeth, easily seen, presence duncan's blood, guilty conscious, presence duncan's, blood blood, oh oh, image blood, tragedy macbeth, affected macbeth, duncan's blood,

Approximate Word count = 1052
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English