During the Renaissance, writers utilized motifs to expand themes in texts through patterns, images, sounds, repeating words, and even symbols to represent a sundry variation of themes. Motifs can highlight something about a character to help the reader understand them better, establish the mood of the story, or introduce and reintroduce the theme throughout the reading. In Shakespeare's work Macbeth, the motif of blood is specifically targeted and reestablished throughout the reading. Macbeth is set in a period where bloodshed and violence are utilized to establish authority. A person is unworthy of serving as a true leader if they are not willing to draw blood. Through the eyes of Macbeth, blood is a stain of guilt that one can not remove. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the motif of blood is symbolic of fear, guilt, power and represents the theme, ambition kills. The motif of blood reoccurs continuously in Shakespear’s Macbeth, but does not lose its importance. As the play becomes more somber and gruesome, blood is mentioned more frequently. When Macbeth started to have thoughts about murdering his own King, he began to hallucinate. Macbeth could not …show more content…
With Macbeth finally becoming the masculine character, Lady Macbeth turns to the feminine role. She begins to feel overwhelmed with guilt and can not take it. Lady Macbeth ends up seeing a doctor due to sleep problems. She spills secrets while being examined by the doctor and nurse. “Out, damned spot! out, I say!...Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” (Act 5, Sc. 1, 32-37). Lady Macbeth is sleep talking and having nightmares about failing to wash out a bloodstain, which is from an “old man.” The reader knows the old man to be Duncan, but the doctor and nurse have not a clue yet. The bloodstain Lady Macbeth is worried about is a symbol of guilt that she can not seem to get rid
When Shakespeare first introduces Macbeth, he automatically is displayed as a fierce, gruesome general. Blood represents his beneficial doing. Captain quotes, “... with bloody execution... he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops, and fixed his head upon our battlements” (I.ii.20). Macbeth slashes Macdonwald, a traitor, from his belly to his jaw, and decapitates him.
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most memorable plays. Macbeth was first performed in 1606 during the reign of King James I. The symbolism of blood can be found all throughout Macbeth. Shakespeare uses blood to symbolize the guilt Macbeth feels for killing Duncan. Macbeth says “What hands are here!
In Shakespeare's "Macbeth," the motif of blood serves as a powerful symbol throughout the play, representing guilt, remorse, and the irreversible consequences of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's actions. The presence of blood immediately following Duncan's murder and its recurring imagery late in the play encapsulate the psychological torment faced by the couple, signifying their moral corruption and the deterioration of their humanity. Following Duncan's murder, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both overwhelmed by guilt and remorse. They become acutely aware of the blood on their hands, which metaphorically represents their responsibility for the heinous act they have committed.
Blood shows and symbolizes power because of Macbeth's battle with Macduff. When Macbeth was king he thought he had all the power, and could never be defeated. When he fought Macduff he was proved wrong because Macduff defeats Macbeth in battle. With Macbeth thinking he was invincible he went into war with too much confidence so “Yet I will try the last Before my body I throw my war like a shield”(Shakespeare 5.8 36-37). Macbeth is saying he is not a coward and will Macduff with no hesitation because he is king.
A little water clears us of this deed./ How easy is it, then! Your constancy/ Hath left you unattended” (2,2, 82-87). Lady Macbeth now has metaphorical and physical blood on her hands. Originally, she just knew about the murder of Duncan, but actively assisting Macbeth and encouraging it, makes her just as guilty. Her morals and ethics have now been forever tainted by the crimes that she and Macbeth have done.
Throughout the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare there are several mentions of blood. Blood serves a bigger purpose in the play than some may or may not, based on the first impression, recognize. The play focuses on a tragic hero who, encouraged by his wife, falls victim to being the cause of a series of unfortunate events. There is an abundance of bloodshed and in the end, it doesn’t end entirely as Macbeth planned. Our tragic hero faces guilt often, as he is the cause of many deaths in his pursuit of power.
As the play nears the end blood plays a less prevalent role in Macbeth’s character to represent that Macbeth’s morality is completely shot. He has nowhere to turn, he has a loss of all feeling, and his life has become completely meaningless. His wife has begun to sleepwalk saying, “What, will these hands neer be clean? Heres the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of / Arabia will not sweeten this little hand." (5.1.40, 46-47)
Closely followed by this treacherous act, they continue these bloody atrocities until it leads to their own deaths. From the perspective of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, blood symbolizes the heavy burden of guilt shown through the many crimes they committed, the high amount of significant references to blood, and the psychological struggles that they faced. Horrendously, Macbeth commits his first murderous crime in the second act. Leading up to this moment, the doubt, fear, and straining pressure offer no mercy to him.
Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.” (V.i.l 25, 33-34). The blood symbolizes the guilt that Lady Macbeth has after being involved in the murder of Duncan. The Macbeths believe that cleaning their hands with water would make the sin of the murder not be in connection with them.
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” (2.2.27). In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the motif of blood and water represents the crime a person has committed and the “cleansing” of guilt. This motif reoccurs numerous times during the play and is best represent by Macbeth and his wife after they feel the guilt of their crimes.
Shakespeare uses the recurring symbol of blood to emphasize the effect of death and violence on the human psyche. The connotation that Macbeth associates with blood switches from a primary motivator to a guilty reminder. Prior to Duncan’s murder, Macbeth witnessed a floating dagger covered with blood (II.i.33). Macbeth had experienced violence and Blood is also used as a reminder of the guilt and trauma from the murder of King Duncan, the guards and Banquo. Macbeth refers to his hallucination of the ghost of Banquo: “It will have blood, they say.
Throughout the play blood is used as a way to show the evil intentions of not only Macbeth but other characters of the famous play, demonstrating their ambition, anger, and guilt. Undoubtedly, the
It symbolizes fear, guilt, insanity and also evil. Macbeth would do almost anything to become King. Since the three witches predicted that what was going to be a part of his future. Macbeth and lady Macbeth both became crazy because of the deadly deeds that they committed. In the beginning of the play blood is shown as honor and bravery and towards the end of the play its shown as guilt and remorse.
Blood is something most people see as gruesome and disturbing, and not something ordinary people enjoy to be in the presence of. In the play Macbeth, the playwright William Shakespeare uses the motif of blood to expose a character's thoughts and personality. Blood is an important motif constantly shown throughout the play. Macbeth, the main character, thinks he can advance to the throne without any consequences. Blood exemplifies the guilt he is now stuck with, and due to Macbeth's excessive ambition, and overwhelming guilt, he is now faced with the consequences.
Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” explores a man’s fall from morality through committing the act of regicide, as well as ideas of guilt, greed and corruption. A motif of blood is used throughout the play to aid Shakespeare’s character development of Macbeth and it also facilitates further exploration of the figurative moral compass and culpability. Blood is used as a symbol and physical manifestation of guilt within characters throughout the play. Firstly, Shakespeare uses the motif of blood to emphasise the moral deterioration of Macbeth 's character.