In the play, the word "blood" is mentioned numerous times. Shakespeare uses the symbol of blood in MacBeth to represent treason, guilt, murder and death. The powerful symbolic meaning of blood changes from the beginning to the end.
             Blood is an important symbol that is used continuously in the play. In the beginning of the play, blood is something which represents courage and bravery. Those who fought and created blood were thought to be heroic. However, towards the end of the play, blood has become something which everyone fears, it is evil, and symbolises guilt and murder. An example of this can be found in act three, scene four, starting at line one hundred and twenty-three:
             Macbeth: It will have blood, they say: blood will have blood.
             Stones have been known to move and trees to speak;
             Augures and understood relations have
             By maggot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth
             The secret'st man of blood. What is the night?
             The first line signifies that those who are involved in bloody crimes, will someday become victims of them. It is saying that people are always punished at some time in their lives for doing things wrong. The statement also signifies that murder and violence are something that Macbeth is very familiar with. The symbol of blood is used extremely well all throughout the play.
             Another reference, in Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 5-11 is when Lady MacBeth talks about smearing the blood from the dagger on the faces and hands of the servants that she drugged. In Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 11-12, "I laid their daggers ready; He could not miss them". Notice how she said THEIR daggers. She is setting up the innocent servants of the king, making it look like they committed treason. Also in this scene is the first reference of blood pertaining to guilt. MacBeth says this in Act 2, Scene 3, Line 60, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" This is an example of blood repre...