Blood in Macbeth

A detailed Summary of Blood in Macbeth


In the play Macbeth, a symbol of blood is portrayed frequently and has different meanings throughout the play, this symbol is developed until it eventually becomes the main theme of the play. The first use of blood is one of honor and respect, and occurs when Duncan sees the injured captain and says "What bloody man is that"(1.2.1). This symbolizes the braveness shown of the soldier who been injured in the battle. In the next instance it is used the injured captain says "Which smok'd with bloody execution"(1.2.18) , he is referring to Macbeth's braveness in which his sword is covered in the blood of the enemy.

After these few references to honor, the symbol of blood now is changed to show a meaning of treachery and treason. Lady Macbeth begins this meaning of blood when she asks the spirits to "make thick my blood"(1.5.44). What she is saying is that she wants to make herself ruthless and guiltless for the act that she is about to c


Another way that blood is symbolized is as of guilt. First Macbeth hints at his guilt when he says "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand"(2.2.59), meaning that he wondered if he would ever be able to forget the horrible murder that he had committed. Then the ghost of Banquo all bloody comes to haunt Macbeth at the banquet. The sight of ghosts represents his guilt for the murder of Banquo, which he was involved in. Lady Macbeth shows an example of guilt using the symbol of blood in the scene in which she walks in her sleep. She says "Out damned spot! Out I say! One: two: why then 'tis 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 out power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him"(5.1.38-43). This speech proves that she cannot wipe the blood of Duncan off of her hands. When Macbeth had been feeling guilty, sh

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 647
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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