Blood In Macbeth

The story of Macbeth by William Shakespeare uses blood as an important symbol to illustrate the characters feelings and beliefs. Blood is used everywhere in Macbeth, the beginning in the battle field scenes, after they kill Duncan, when Banque was killed and at the end when Lady Macbeth feels that blood has stained her. Blood is used in Macbeth to symbolize many things and the meaning of blood slowly progresses throughout the play. Blood in the play symbolizes different things as the play goes by; the imagery of blood goes from meaning honor, to betrayal, to guilt then to honor again. As the symbol of blood changes, the character of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth changes.

Blood can symbolize many things, honors is one of the main things that it symbolizes. When two groups of people are fighting in war, blood can symbolize glory and respect. Fighting for things like freedom is one way blood can be honorable. Even if it's a person's blood or the enemies' blood, it is something that will symbolize a sense of honor and courage. This is showed in Macbeth in the beginning scenes when Duncan sees the bloody sergeant. The bloody sergeant represents a brave soldier who fought heroically for his country. The bloody sergeant says to Duncan "Which smok'd with bloody execution", which represents how brave Macbeth is and how is sword is covered in the enemy's blood.

The symbolism of blood changes throughout the play, as the character of Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth changes. Before the murder of Duncan, blood symbolizes treason and betrayal. Blood shed can mean betrayal if that blood shed goes against a person's belief. The execution of noble king can be treason. Two lines in the play show

how blood symbolizes betrayal. The first line is said by Lady Macbeth when she prays to the spirits and says "make thick my blood," this line says that Lady Macbeth wants to become thoughtless and remorseful for the evil deed that she is going to commit. "And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, / Which was not so before. There's no such thing: / It is the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes." This is a reference to treason and murder. The symbolism of blood chances dramatically from meaning honor to meaning sedition.

The symbol of blood then changes again, the symbol of blood changes from meaning treachery to meaning guilt. Killing someone can cause a lot of problems to a person. The act of killing a person that once trusted you can cause a lot more problems. Macbeth says after the killing of Duncan "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand? No; this hand will rather / The multitudinous seas incarnadine, / Making the green one red." This symbolizes the change in Macbeth's character; this line also symbolizes guilt and remorse. Macbeth realizes the magnitude of his crime, the thing that he did was truly evil and that not even the water of the oceans can wash away the crime.

The symbol of guilt for blood continues through the play. When a person kills someone they have a chance of redemption. When a person kills multiple times recovery seems grim. The ghost of Banque at the banquet shows the guilt of Macbeth and how what he did is beyond redemption. This point in the play shows