How Does Shakespeare Use Blood Imagery In Macbeth

Imagery is a big part of writing, whether it be from poetry to plays to novel writing. There are an endless of different ways to use imagery. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, imagery is used throughout the play as a literary device to express a character’s emotions, thoughts, or feelings. Shakespeare uses imagery in various ways throughout Macbeth. Firstly, Shakespeare uses blood imagery as a symbol of Macbeth’s guilt and the violent acts that he commits. Secondly, the use of sleep imagery is a representation of Lady Macbeth’s guilt inside her that disrupts her mental peace. Lastly, cleansing imagery shows Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s attempts to wash away their guilt, further emphasizing the severity of their regret and the savage nature of their actions.

The first instance is the moment before Macbeth follows through with the act of killing Duncan. Macbeth sees a vision of a bloody dagger pointing the way toward Duncan’s chambers: “I see thee still, / And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, / Which was not so before. There’s no such thing as that. It is the bloody business which informs, “Thus to mine eyes” (Shakespeare 2.1.44-48). The dagger popping up symbolizes Duncan’s inevitable murder waiting to happen, and the specs of blood present on the dagger represent the guilt that will eventually haunt Macbeth’s internal peace for the remainder of the play. The vision of the bloody dagger is an illusion created in Macbeth’s mind that stems from the guilt of plotting Duncan’s murder. The second instance is while Macbeth is in the action of killing Duncan and Duncan’s guards awaken then speak: “One cried ‘God bless us,’ and ‘Amen’the other,’ as they had seen me with these hangman’s hands. Listening to their fear, I could not say ‘Amen’/When they did say ‘God bless us.’” (2.2.25-28). When the guards wake up and speak, Macbeth tries to respond with the word “Amen” but