Macbeth Poetic Techniques Essay

How Poetic Techniques Enhance Macbeth Art is the product of creative human activities that is meant to be appreciated for its emotional power or beauty. It can pertain to drama, literature, dance, and many other forms of personal expression that it holds under its “vast umbrella”. Literary art, in particular, is the product of creative writing that gives a timeless and universal experience. This type of art uses literary techniques and devices to enhance the themes that add to the plot of a dramatic work. The play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy about the downfall of a man seeking power, transformed into literary art through the use of various poetic techniques to enhance the themes of appearance versus reality, guilt manifestation, …show more content…
Blood, being one of the play’s motifs, is used to symbolize the guilt that has “stained” the conscience of Macbeth and his wife. The constant reference to blood serves as a reminder of the deeds that have been committed, and show how the characters are being “consumed” by their guilt. When Lady Macbeth is observed sleep-walking, she tries to wash her hands: “Out, damned spot! out, I say!” (5.1.32). The symbol of blood portrays how Lady Macbeth no longer thinks about anything but the murders, as she begins to talk about them in her sleep. This recurring symbol is also seen earlier in the play when Macbeth says there is enough blood on his hands to turn the seas red. The use of this motif adds depth to the play, and dramatizes the way the characters handle the events that have taken place. The recurring symbol of blood helps tie the plot of the play together; the events that occurred seem like a continuing action (like the repeated event of the washing of the hands). The motifs in the play show how the characters lose grip on reality, costing Lady Macbeth her life. The use of recurring symbols helps Macbeth become art as they are used to convey multiple ideas and emotions through the use of characters and recurring