Macbeth Blood Analysis

Why does one shed blood, what motivates the theft of life? In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the Macbeth’s thirst for power causes them to commit unspeakable atrocities, each atrocity committed deteriorates their sole until they are “in blood Stepped in so far that, should [They] wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er”(3.four.125). Shakespeare uses the blood image to display inhumane acts that one would not expect from the originally innocent, thus revealing the true emotion of the character.

Shakespeare uses the image of blood to reveal the consuming feeling of ambition present in the hearts of the Macbeths, alas such dark hearts lead the once brave Macbeth and his Wife down the path of cowardice and treason. As

Macbeth at the beginning of the play is a valiant man, he was the mighty Macbeth savior of Scotland he seemed indestructible, nevertheless he had an Achilles heel. After killing Duncan and committed the highest form of treason he is suddenly hit by a colossal amount of guilt, Macbeth cries “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash with blood clean from my hand? No; this is my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red” (2.2.78-81). Macbeth's suffering in this passage puts him on display for one to realize that he is just a man, a man as susceptible to guilt as any other. The act of shedding the blood of his own tore away the old valiant Macbeth and replaced him by a desperate man. Macbeth has not only betrayed his country but his friend, his ambition has gotten the best of him and is now utterly consumed by it, to the point that one would question the beating of his heart. After having gravely concerned all his lords by claiming to have seen a ghost Macbeth calmly whispers,"It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood." Macbeth believes that he will pay for the blood he spilled with his life and in that exact moment, he reached a brief time of

Lady Macbeth has failed to escape the grasps of fear, she has failed to escape the mental consequences of bloodshed. Although no human authority has brought her to justice her ever grown fear and paranoia sentenced her to death. During Lady Macbeth's consultation with her doctor she Says, “Here’s the smell of blood still. All/ the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. O, O, O!” (5. 1. 53-55). Much like Macbeth the blood in her hands refuses to leave, no Arabian perfume can mask its sent. The blood on Lady Macbeth's hand symbolizes her fear, she tries to conceal it, to shove it deep inside her and ignore it but alas the blood refuses to be submerged. Lady Macbeth's fear lay far beyond physical punishment, she is petrified not of being found out but of the uncontrollable emotions that threaten to drive her to insanity. Emotions such as guilt and regret that are so strong they could lead a person to take one's own