Essay/Term paper: The imagery of blood in macbeth

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Shakespeare

Imagery Of Blood 'MacBeth', the dramatic play written by William

Shakespeare has many good examples of imagery, especially blood. The play

opens with the weird sisters talking about meeting again and talking about

MacBeth. A war has just ended, making MacBeth a Brave hero because he is

the general of the Scottish army and they won. MacBeth is the thane of

Glamis, and then becomes the Thane of Cawdor. The weird sisters make

many predictions to Macbeth, all of which come true. MacBeth makes the last

prediction come true by killing King Duncan. The imagery of blood is very

important in 'MacBeth'. It symbolizes honor and bravery and also deceit and

evil. In the beginning of the play blood is something of honor and bravery and

symbolizes good and victory. The blood on MacBeth's sword after the war

shows him to be a brave hero because of the enemy he killed. He is known as

"Brave MacBeth" to everyone including King Duncan. His bravery earns him

the title of Thane of Cawdor, because the thane of Cawdor was executed for

treason. The blood at the beginning of the play earns MacBeth respect and a

title. MacBeth is feeling very guilty about the murder of King Duncan and

Banquo. " With all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my

hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas in carnadine, making

the green one red", shows the great guilt that blood represents at this point in

the play. What MacBeth means is that with all of the water in the ocean could

not wash his hands clean from the deed he has just done. If he where to try

and wash his hands in the ocean it would turn it red because there is so much

blood on his hands. Not only does MacBeth feel guilty about the Murder of

King Duncan but he also feels very guilty about the murder of Banquo. He

sees Banquo's ghost and his bloody head. Blood represents a lot of guilt for

Lady MacBeth near the end of the play. During the play Lady MacBeth is the

one who tries to keep MacBeth sane and keep from breaking. She tells him

that he is not a man and things around that nature to try and help he be

stronger and stay in control about the murder of King Duncan. Lady MacBeth

seems to be fine about the whole thing, not showing any sign of remorse or

guilt until near the end when she sleep walks and tells the story of the murder.

She continually washes her hands, "What, will these hands never be clean",

she says during her sleepwalk. "Here's the smell of blood still. All the

perfumes of Arabia could not sweeten this little hand". Again showing the

imagery of blood used as guilt. The imagery of blood is used in two different

views. One of good and the other of evil. In the beginning of the play blood is

shown as honor and bravery and to wards the end it is shown as guilt and

bad. MacBeth makes the predictions of the weird sisters come true, and that

is how the problems started. MacBeth got too greedy and wanted too much

power, which led to his downfall. William Shakespeare uses imagery very well

in "MacBeth"; Blood was one of the most important in the beginning and end

of the play.