You know that one thing that everyone has, can gain, or in most cases can lose, but can’t live without? Well that’s blood, possibly the most important thing to exist. Blood carries the same importance in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and constantly reminds the audience about how serious the consequences of the characters actions are. However, surpassing the importance of physical blood is the symbolic meanings of blood as a sign of honour, treachery, and guilt. Through examination of the characters and their actions, it is evident how blood represents more than just the physical presence, but further holds a symbolic meaning.
First of all, literal blood is presented during the battle, where it symbolizes bravery and honour. When King Duncan notices …show more content…
First of all, Macbeth hints at his guilt when he says, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" (2.2.79-80). This implies that if his hand was not covered in blood he would be pronounced innocent, but instead he wonders if he would ever be able to forget the horrifying deed that he had committed. Secondly, the ghost of Banquo, all gory, and bloody haunts Macbeth at the banquet. The sight of apparitions represents his guilt for the murder of Banquo which he planned, and seeing his victim covered in blood makes him feel intensely remorseful. Additionally, Macbeth shows expresses guilt when he says, "It is the bloody business which informs thus" (2.1.58-59). Macbeth could not gather up the courage to say murder after he had killed Duncan, so he uses this line instead. His guilt overpowers his thoughts, so he chooses not to refer back to his bloody deeds. Furthermore, we can see Lady Macbeth showing the most vivid example of guilt using the symbol of blood in the scene in which she walks in her sleep. While sleepwalking she says, "Out damned spot! Out I say! One: two: why then "tis time to do"t: hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it when none can call out power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" (5.1.31-36). Lady Macbeth is referring to the fact that she cannot wipe the blood stains of Duncan or guilt off of her hands. The blood has both a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning of guilt. When the doctor of the castle finds out about her sleepwalking, he tells Macbeth, "As she is troubled with thick-coming fantasies" (2.2.85). What this means, is that Lady Macbeth is having fantasies or dreams that deal with blood. Macbeth knows in his mind that she is having troubles with her guilt, but will not say anything about it to the doctor, as he does not
First of all, literal blood is presented during the battle, where it symbolizes bravery and honour. When King Duncan notices …show more content…
First of all, Macbeth hints at his guilt when he says, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" (2.2.79-80). This implies that if his hand was not covered in blood he would be pronounced innocent, but instead he wonders if he would ever be able to forget the horrifying deed that he had committed. Secondly, the ghost of Banquo, all gory, and bloody haunts Macbeth at the banquet. The sight of apparitions represents his guilt for the murder of Banquo which he planned, and seeing his victim covered in blood makes him feel intensely remorseful. Additionally, Macbeth shows expresses guilt when he says, "It is the bloody business which informs thus" (2.1.58-59). Macbeth could not gather up the courage to say murder after he had killed Duncan, so he uses this line instead. His guilt overpowers his thoughts, so he chooses not to refer back to his bloody deeds. Furthermore, we can see Lady Macbeth showing the most vivid example of guilt using the symbol of blood in the scene in which she walks in her sleep. While sleepwalking she says, "Out damned spot! Out I say! One: two: why then "tis time to do"t: hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it when none can call out power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" (5.1.31-36). Lady Macbeth is referring to the fact that she cannot wipe the blood stains of Duncan or guilt off of her hands. The blood has both a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning of guilt. When the doctor of the castle finds out about her sleepwalking, he tells Macbeth, "As she is troubled with thick-coming fantasies" (2.2.85). What this means, is that Lady Macbeth is having fantasies or dreams that deal with blood. Macbeth knows in his mind that she is having troubles with her guilt, but will not say anything about it to the doctor, as he does not