Blood Imagery In The Tragedy Of Macbeth
Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth is a story of power and destruction. The two main characters, Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, are driven by ambition to commit evil actions. Lady Macbeth, a more ambitious person than her husband plots to have her husband murder the king of Scotland so that he can take the throne. Macbeth commits more murders to protect his throne, all the while becoming sick with guilt and paranoia. The guilt that engulfs him and his wife lead to their eventual madness. Blood appears everywhere throughout the work and symbolizes many things. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare creates a sinister mood with blood imagery, which creates suspense and helps to resolve the story.
Shakespeare uses blood imagery in Act One of Macbeth to create suspense. The opening battle of the story, between Scotland and the Norwegian invaders uses blood imagery to symbolize honor and bravery. Blood symbolizes bravery because the blood spilled is the blood of traitors and not noble men. 'Show'd like a rebel's whore. But all's too weak -- For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish'd steel, Which smok'd with bloody execution.' The sergeant praises Macbeth for the murder of a traitor, as the king praises the sergeant for his bravery on the battle field. 'So well thy words become thee as thy wounds, They smack of honor both. Go get him surgeons.' As Macbeth and his wife plot the murder of Duncan, they plan to smear the blood of the king on his chamberlains. They hope the blood will make the chamberlains appear guilty. 'When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two of his own chamber, and us'd their very daggers, that they have done't?' Macbeth knows, though, that he cannot hide his guilt from himself. He calls the plans 'bloody instructions, which being taught, return to plague th' inventor.' Macbeth feels remorse for the murder he commits. His speech suggests that Macbeth knows the...
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