Will Gibert
Honors Genre Studies
November 12th, 2015
Blood
Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, is a perfect example of theatrical tragedy. The viewer is instantly hooked with action as the play starts with battle in which Macbeth nearly slices his enemy's body in half to claim victory for his king. Macbeth starts at a high point, being a hero of war. Then play then takes a turn for the worse when Macbeth is given a prophecy from three witches stating that he would become king, and that his comrade, Banquo`s line would eventually seize the throne. From this moment on, murders are committed, tyranny rules over the land, and combat is inflicted; Macbeth rapidly declines from a noble man into a ruthless killer. Even though the plot changes …show more content…
(Act 2 sc 1 55)
Macbeth imagines a floating dagger leading him towards Duncan. The dagger turns from a clean blade, into a bloody dagger. The imaginary transition from a clean blade into a bloody blade foreshadows the actual way Macbeth`s dagger will look after killing Duncan. The blood on the knife foreshadows a violent murder.
Blood is a symbol of guilt in Macbeth. Guilt is a force that haunts the mind; once a crime is committed, it says with the criminal for the rest of their lives, constantly reminding them of their past actions. In Macbeth, blood symbolizes guilt for the protagonists. As blood is shed several times throughout the play, it sticks to the murderer, and makes them regret and feel guilty of their actions. In the beginning of the play just after Macbeth has killed Duncan, he exemplifies blood to describe his guilt for his actions.
Will all great Neptune`s ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red. …show more content…
(4.1.170-174)
Ordering a murder on Macduff`s wife and child shows that Macbeth has become completely driven by ambition; he has lost all sense of humanity. Macbeth`s desire to oppose Macduff and retain the throne would take him as far as shedding two innocent and defenseless people`s blood.
In Shakespeare`s Macbeth, blood is a symbol of violence; and guilt; it is the result of the character`s ambition. Blood is a crucial element of the plot and character development in this play; Macbeth is often referred to as one of Shakespeare`s most bloody performances. Whether it`s physical violence or mental insanity from guilt, blood is implemented all throughout the plot of the play. Macbeth is a tragic story; in the beginning Macbeth is a noble general to his king. When he allows witches to deceive his mind, Macbeth becomes a cold-blooded killer; always trying to satisfy his foul ambitions, and always marked with
Honors Genre Studies
November 12th, 2015
Blood
Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, is a perfect example of theatrical tragedy. The viewer is instantly hooked with action as the play starts with battle in which Macbeth nearly slices his enemy's body in half to claim victory for his king. Macbeth starts at a high point, being a hero of war. Then play then takes a turn for the worse when Macbeth is given a prophecy from three witches stating that he would become king, and that his comrade, Banquo`s line would eventually seize the throne. From this moment on, murders are committed, tyranny rules over the land, and combat is inflicted; Macbeth rapidly declines from a noble man into a ruthless killer. Even though the plot changes …show more content…
(Act 2 sc 1 55)
Macbeth imagines a floating dagger leading him towards Duncan. The dagger turns from a clean blade, into a bloody dagger. The imaginary transition from a clean blade into a bloody blade foreshadows the actual way Macbeth`s dagger will look after killing Duncan. The blood on the knife foreshadows a violent murder.
Blood is a symbol of guilt in Macbeth. Guilt is a force that haunts the mind; once a crime is committed, it says with the criminal for the rest of their lives, constantly reminding them of their past actions. In Macbeth, blood symbolizes guilt for the protagonists. As blood is shed several times throughout the play, it sticks to the murderer, and makes them regret and feel guilty of their actions. In the beginning of the play just after Macbeth has killed Duncan, he exemplifies blood to describe his guilt for his actions.
Will all great Neptune`s ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red. …show more content…
(4.1.170-174)
Ordering a murder on Macduff`s wife and child shows that Macbeth has become completely driven by ambition; he has lost all sense of humanity. Macbeth`s desire to oppose Macduff and retain the throne would take him as far as shedding two innocent and defenseless people`s blood.
In Shakespeare`s Macbeth, blood is a symbol of violence; and guilt; it is the result of the character`s ambition. Blood is a crucial element of the plot and character development in this play; Macbeth is often referred to as one of Shakespeare`s most bloody performances. Whether it`s physical violence or mental insanity from guilt, blood is implemented all throughout the plot of the play. Macbeth is a tragic story; in the beginning Macbeth is a noble general to his king. When he allows witches to deceive his mind, Macbeth becomes a cold-blooded killer; always trying to satisfy his foul ambitions, and always marked with