Blood: The Loss of Life, Morality, and Sanity
The Tragedy of Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s greatest, as well as shortest, works. The play connects with the political, historical, and philosophical influences of Shakespeare’s time. It is believed that when Macbeth was written in 1606, Shakespeare wanted to appease the then-ruling monarch and his most recent theatrical patron, James VI of Scotland. To please James, Shakespeare wrote the play to focus on James’ Scottish lineage and history, fascination with witchcraft, and theory of divine right of kings. Shakespeare takes James’ interests and history to fabricate an entire play. The tragic fall of the highly ranked, well-respected Scottish general Macbeth losing his morality (and sanity) due …show more content…
When Macbeth tells Malcolm and Donalbain of Duncan’s murder, he states, “The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopp’d; the very source of it is stopp’d” (2.3.98-99). Macbeth then describes Duncan’s lifeless body as “His silver skin laced with his golden blood” (2.3.112). This line refers to how Duncan’s body (his skin) is covered with his blood, the evident sign of the end of his life. Blood is also used in the familial connection sense when Donalbain and Malcolm discuss their plans of running away to Ireland and England to escape any attempts on their life. Donalbain acknowledges that “the near in blood, The nearer bloody” (2.3.140-141) meaning that the closer relation they have with Duncan the more likely that they will suffer his fate. In the scenes following the discovery of Duncan’s body, blood is momentarily no longer symbolic of guilt but of family and life. As the play continues, blood will return to representing evil, sin, and …show more content…
When Macbeth talks about how his “bloody cousins are bestowed In England and in Ireland, not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers With strange invention,” (3.1.29-32) he maintains the façade that Malcolm and Donalbain are the ones responsible for their father’s murder. The use of blood in this instance also symbolizes Macbeth’s diminishing morality. The use of the word blood is seen again when Macbeth speaks to Lady Macbeth about his plan to have Banquo murdered. Macbeth states, “Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day And with thy bloody and invisible hand Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond Which keeps me pale,” (3.2.46-50). The “great bond” that Macbeth is referring to is Banquo’s life, which keeps him pale with fear because of the prophecy that Banquo’s heirs will be kings. Macbeth’s paranoia and ambition is overpowering his rationale. Macbeth believes that if Banquo is dead, his blood is shed, then the blood will return to his face and his throne will be secure, despite the witches’
The Tragedy of Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s greatest, as well as shortest, works. The play connects with the political, historical, and philosophical influences of Shakespeare’s time. It is believed that when Macbeth was written in 1606, Shakespeare wanted to appease the then-ruling monarch and his most recent theatrical patron, James VI of Scotland. To please James, Shakespeare wrote the play to focus on James’ Scottish lineage and history, fascination with witchcraft, and theory of divine right of kings. Shakespeare takes James’ interests and history to fabricate an entire play. The tragic fall of the highly ranked, well-respected Scottish general Macbeth losing his morality (and sanity) due …show more content…
When Macbeth tells Malcolm and Donalbain of Duncan’s murder, he states, “The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopp’d; the very source of it is stopp’d” (2.3.98-99). Macbeth then describes Duncan’s lifeless body as “His silver skin laced with his golden blood” (2.3.112). This line refers to how Duncan’s body (his skin) is covered with his blood, the evident sign of the end of his life. Blood is also used in the familial connection sense when Donalbain and Malcolm discuss their plans of running away to Ireland and England to escape any attempts on their life. Donalbain acknowledges that “the near in blood, The nearer bloody” (2.3.140-141) meaning that the closer relation they have with Duncan the more likely that they will suffer his fate. In the scenes following the discovery of Duncan’s body, blood is momentarily no longer symbolic of guilt but of family and life. As the play continues, blood will return to representing evil, sin, and …show more content…
When Macbeth talks about how his “bloody cousins are bestowed In England and in Ireland, not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers With strange invention,” (3.1.29-32) he maintains the façade that Malcolm and Donalbain are the ones responsible for their father’s murder. The use of blood in this instance also symbolizes Macbeth’s diminishing morality. The use of the word blood is seen again when Macbeth speaks to Lady Macbeth about his plan to have Banquo murdered. Macbeth states, “Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day And with thy bloody and invisible hand Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond Which keeps me pale,” (3.2.46-50). The “great bond” that Macbeth is referring to is Banquo’s life, which keeps him pale with fear because of the prophecy that Banquo’s heirs will be kings. Macbeth’s paranoia and ambition is overpowering his rationale. Macbeth believes that if Banquo is dead, his blood is shed, then the blood will return to his face and his throne will be secure, despite the witches’