An image is a word or phrase that suggests a mental picture that we associate with one of our senses. When Shakespeare refers to blood, the reader is meant to use imagery to see its redness, and feel its stickiness. The word “blood” is used again and again, more than forty times throughout the play. From beginning to end, Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, has reappearing imagery of blood. The duty and function of bloody imagery in Macbeth expresses a representation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s conscience. The reader goes through forms of dramatic irony that prove that blood is not just a physical image, but it is a symbol of their mentality. The image of blood is constantly haunting their minds and reflects the changes in their characters throughout
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For example, proceeding the murder of King Duncan, blood symbolizes the guilt within Macbeth. This guilt causes him to experience eternal fear for the crime he has committed. “What hands are here! Ha! They pluck out mine eyes. / 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” (2.2.60-64). The context and meaning of this scene portrays strong imagery of blood and demonstrates Macbeth’s inability to remove the blood from his hands. When shakespeare writes “all of neptune’s oceans” it represents the level of guilt withheld inside Macbeth’s conscience. Guilt will always remain to haunt him as the image of the crime will always remain in his …show more content…
“And with thy bloody and invisible hand / Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond / Which keeps me pale” (3.2.48-50). To conceal his thoughts and feelings of guilt, Macbeth feels obligated to prevent any further suspicions in the midst of the other characters. By concealing his thoughts, he Within this quote, “bloody and invisible hand” is an oxymoron that could be perceived as a contrast between appearance vs reality by comparing guilt and innocence. The imagery of blood on Macbeth’s hands is increasingly strong and symbolises the guilt by expressing the degree of cruelty. As the play proceeds, there is more blood and more guilt. “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! Oh! Oh!” (5.1.46-47). Macbeth is not the only one who has a guilty conscience. Lady Macbeth is in the same position as her husband. She is unable to wash away her sinful crimes creating her ‘bloody guilt’. This quote is uses sensory imagery to describe the ‘smell’ of the blood. The guilty and sinful smell of blood will never be ‘sweetened’. The smell of the blood will forever curse Lady Macbeth’s thoughts. Consumed in immense guilt, she will drown in her own fear and
For example, proceeding the murder of King Duncan, blood symbolizes the guilt within Macbeth. This guilt causes him to experience eternal fear for the crime he has committed. “What hands are here! Ha! They pluck out mine eyes. / 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” (2.2.60-64). The context and meaning of this scene portrays strong imagery of blood and demonstrates Macbeth’s inability to remove the blood from his hands. When shakespeare writes “all of neptune’s oceans” it represents the level of guilt withheld inside Macbeth’s conscience. Guilt will always remain to haunt him as the image of the crime will always remain in his …show more content…
“And with thy bloody and invisible hand / Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond / Which keeps me pale” (3.2.48-50). To conceal his thoughts and feelings of guilt, Macbeth feels obligated to prevent any further suspicions in the midst of the other characters. By concealing his thoughts, he Within this quote, “bloody and invisible hand” is an oxymoron that could be perceived as a contrast between appearance vs reality by comparing guilt and innocence. The imagery of blood on Macbeth’s hands is increasingly strong and symbolises the guilt by expressing the degree of cruelty. As the play proceeds, there is more blood and more guilt. “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! Oh! Oh!” (5.1.46-47). Macbeth is not the only one who has a guilty conscience. Lady Macbeth is in the same position as her husband. She is unable to wash away her sinful crimes creating her ‘bloody guilt’. This quote is uses sensory imagery to describe the ‘smell’ of the blood. The guilty and sinful smell of blood will never be ‘sweetened’. The smell of the blood will forever curse Lady Macbeth’s thoughts. Consumed in immense guilt, she will drown in her own fear and