Blood Imagrey in Macbeth
Blood Imagery in William Shakespeare's Macbeth William Shakespeare wrote the Tragedy of Macbeth in approximately 1606 AD. He loosely based it on a historical event occurring around 1050 AD. Macbeth is the story of a nobleman, who, while trying to fulfill a prophecy told to him by three witches, murders his King to cause his ascension to the throne of Scotland. After the King's murder, Macbeth reigns as a cruel and ruthless tyrant, who is forced to kill more people to keep control of the throne. Finally, Scottish rebels combined with English forces attack Macbeth's castle, and Macbeth is killed by a Scottish Thane named Macduff who has sacrificed everything to see peace return to Scotland. In the play, the word "blood" is mentioned numerous times. Shakespeare's use of this particular word is significant; he uses it to develop the character of Macbeth and the unfolding events of the drama. The powerful symbolic meaning of blood changes from the beginning to the end. Near the beginning of the play, after Macbeth and the Scottish army defeated the rebel Macdonwald's army, a bleeding sergeant comes on stage. The sergeant then proceeds to describe the battle and how brave
Blood shed for a noble cause is good blood. Shakespeare uses this blood imagery to enhance the audience's understanding of Macbeth's character. Here's the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of / Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. He begins as a noble, just and brave person, to becoming evil, ambitious, and treacherous during Duncan's murder, to his final feelings of remorse for his crime and finally, to the realization that he will be punished for his sins. " (Act V, Scene 1, Lines 40, 46-47) The blood imagery exhibits Lady Macbeth's guilt over Duncan's murder. In the play's final scene, Macduff confronts Macbeth to avenge the murders of his children and his wife at Macbeth's hand, and to see Malcolm established as the rightful King. This is a stark contrast to what blood meant earlier in the play. Before Duncan's murder, Macbeth imagines seeing a dagger floating in the air before him. He tells Lady Macbeth before he goes to sleep, "All causes shall give way: I am in blood / Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o'er:" (Act III, Scene 4, Lines 159-161) We now find that Macbeth has entered so far into hell and the world of evil, it is impossible for him to return to righteousness. There is no chance of redemption; he has permanently allied himself with the forces of evil. When Macduff, mentions blood, it speaks to justified bloodshed, and revenge. He describes it, "And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, / Which was not so before.
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II Scene,
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Lady Macbeth,
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III Scene,
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