Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a story taken from Scottish history and presented to the Scottish king James I. Shakespeare took this gory tale of murderous ambition, however, and transformed it into an imaginative tale of good and evil. Shakespeare brought about this transformation by relying upon “imaginative verbal vigor” that imbeds itself in the brilliantly concentrated phrases of this literary work. Critics have dubbed it his darkest work, along with King Lear. In his critique of Shakespeare’s works and plays, Charles Haines describes Macbeth as “one of Shakespeare’s shortest plays, containing just 2,108 lines.” He further states that it is a vigorous, headlong drama, a relentless spectacle in red and black. (Haines, p. 105) This red and black spectacle reveals itself to the reader and audience through the use of blood imagery. Blood, or the imagery attached to it, appears 42 times in this play. This imagery of blood begins as a representation of honor and progresses into one of evil, then guilt, and finally returns to represent honor.
The symbolic use of blood roots in the opening lines of Macbeth when Macbeth accepts honor for his bravery in battle. Duncan sees the injured captain and says, “ Wha
. . .
It is for this reason that William Shakespeare used blood imagery in the tragedy of Macbeth. This particular description relies on its imagery to reveal the transition from honor to that of pure evil and
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treachery. “ The third, and perhaps most often used symbol of blood, is as a representation of quilt. Her subconscious feelings of guilt consume her whole being. Macbeth’s character becomes more treacherous as ambition drives him further and further away from the honorable character portrayed in the beginning lines. Line1) The dudgeon of a dagger is the hilt of the dagger (123helpme. The famous sleepwalking scene is possibly the most blatant example of blood imagery used to expose guilt. These deep wounds, the length of said dagger, become the points from which King Duncan’s lifeblood will spill. He describes in detail what he will see. The bloody sword gives birth to this reverence. Macduff brings down King Duncan’s murderer as supporters proclaim him a hero. The next use of blood represented an evil act of bloodletting by Macbeth and his lady. Two… Ye who would have thought the old man had so much blood in him?” (Act V, Scene1, lines 37-42) Lady Macbeth’s struggle to cleanse her hands of Duncan’s blood is a subconscious act, but one that drives her insane and leads to her suicide.
Approximate Word count =
1957
Approximate Pages =
8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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