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What Does Blood Symbolize In Macbeth

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From the depths of 11th-century Scotland to modern-day literature, symbols are a recurring literary device used to convey the author's intent. Symbolism is a core element of theme development. In Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses several symbols to drive the themes. The three witches represent fate and destiny, light and darkness signify good and evil, and sleep symbolizes guilt. Although these symbols play a vital role in plot development, blood stands out as the most prominent symbol. At the start of the play, blood signifies Macbeth's triumph and glory, but it quickly evolves into an expression of guilt and violence, causing Macbeth's tragic downfall. The contrast between the initial and ultimate roles of blood in Macbeth can be seen in the first scenes of …show more content…

Conversely, upon learning his fate from the three witches, Macbeth becomes consumed with ambition. He soon finds his mind corrupted with thoughts of killing King Duncan. As revealed through Macbeth himself, “the present fears are less than horrible imaginings” (1.3.157–158), meaning his impulsive thoughts frighten him more than the bloody battles he is facing. This statement is ironic because his current struggles are minimal compared to his future problems that will stem from his bloodthirsty nature. Although the witches plant thoughts in Macbeth's head, Lady Macbeth is the one who persuades him to ultimately kill King Duncan. She believes that destiny reveals his life's path through the supernatural witches, since “fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have Macbeth crown’d withal” (1.5.26–27). Lady Macbeth's comfort with violence and blood in the opening of the play serves as a contrast to Macbeth's initial thoughts. He calls his plans to kill Duncan “bloody instructions” (1.7.9). This foreshadows the outcome of the tragic events because the repercussions of the murder are far greater than Macbeth or Lady Macbeth

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In Act 2 of Macbeth by WIlliam shakespeare, Tthe blood motif is associated with being nervous and fearless which contribute to the character trait. s. This contributed to the character trait of In Macbeth, tThe blood motif links to being anxiousnervous because Macbeth is thinking about killing Duncan. When Macbeth is talking to himself in his bedroom, “IS this dagger which I seeI see before me? The handle toward my hand? Come let me clutch thee.

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The first being the murder of Duncan, second being the murder of Banquo, and the third being Lady Macbeth’s repentance towards what she has done and what she has made Macbeth do. In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses this motif of blood and water to emphasize the theme of the guilt people feel after they commit a horrible crime and how they try to “clean” it away. To add to this theme, Shakespeare has Macbeth

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Blood Stains In William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, he uses blood as a motif to represent guilt and evil. Mentions of blood are used many times in the story, referenced both literally and figuratively. I will be focusing on the figures. Unless a person is invulnerable to any harm, blood will inevitably spill, likely for the worse. Initially, blood represents evil and sin, all the terrible deeds that are done; furthermore, Macbeth uses this motif, saying: “We hear our bloody cousins” (Shakespeare 3.1.29).

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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.

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641 Words | 3 Pages

A man’s pride can be his downfall, and he needs to learn when to turn to others for support and guidance. (Bear Grylls) Lady Macbeth and Macbeth will do anything for Macbeth to become the king. In the story Shakespeare uses blood and hallucinations as symbols to convey his theme that pride forces people to go too far, often pushing people to make choices that are irreversible. Blood represents guilt which conveys theme.

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587 Words | 3 Pages

He claims that he hasn’t thought about the witches prophecies’, although their foreshadowing is what makes him think of killing Duncan in the first place. Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan and he first reacts with timidity, but then finally agrees. He begins to get feelings of guilt when he sees a bloody dagger floating. He claims to see a “dagger of the mind, a false creation / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain,” This shows the unease of Macbeth toward killing Duncan.

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888 Words | 4 Pages

A wide plethora of symbolism is used throughout numerous works of Shakespeare, all deeming different meanings and meant to be understood in sometimes distinct ways. Macbeth shows that there can be light and darkness, which is all things that represents the good and bad seemingly through the whole play. A more common example is one shown in if not any, but all of his plays, which is blood. For example, the blood in Macbeth represents the guilt and darkness which is associated with one’s evil nature.

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597 Words | 3 Pages

In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, literary symbols or motifs such as blood play a significant role. Throughout the play, blood feeds off of a strong case of corrupt ambition and symbolizes guilt, blame and destruction. No matter how strong or thick one’s blood is, actions prove to be permanent and have serious side effects such as a haunting guilt marked by Macbeth’s crimson blood. Shortly after discovering that Macbeth is in line to be King, he and his wife Lady Macbeth devise a plan to murder and remove the incumbent King Duncan from his throne to open up the position. However, as soon as Macbeth commits the fatal murder, he is exasperated by his actions evidently as he yelps, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?

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The witches' predictions just urge this desire to be above all else. The witches who symbolize Macbeth's shrewd desire put his contemplations into real words. The thought of homicide jumps out at him,"My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical," (I, i). Macbeth himself recognizes his "vaulting ambition" that drives him to murder after Duncan

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997 Words | 4 Pages

Before Macbeth kills King Duncan, he is hesitant about the historic action. Although he is intrigued at the idea of becoming king, he believes Duncan is a good man. Using her power, Lady Macbeth says, “That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, / And chastise with the valour of my tongue/ All that impedes thee from the golden round, / Which fate and metaphysical aid doth

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Macbeth knowing his actions were wrong, begins to become paranoid; afraid that someone might come to take his title the same way he took King Duncan’s. As Macbeth grows throughout the story he becomes a negligent murderer, and while continuing to murder he loses sight of his humanity. As this tragedy continues however; Macbeth become too ambitious too allow his conscience to stop him from murdering all those that he fear will ruin him. As his downfall slowly comes to an end he begins to show signs of relief, he no longer has to lie and hide things from anyone

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1357 Words | 6 Pages

This portrayal is evident in characters such as Macbeth and Othello, who are both driven by their ambition and desire for control. However, this narrow view of manhood can also be limiting and damaging, as it places emphasis on certain qualities and characteristics while marginalizing others. In Macbeth, there are several symbols that can be compared and contrasted. Some examples include blood, water, the witches and many more. Blood is a significant symbol in Macbeth, representing guilt and the corruption of violence.

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2069 Words | 9 Pages

His ambition causes him to begin to have thoughts of murdering King Duncan: “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion…Present fears / Are less than horrible imaginings. / My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man / that function is smothered in surmise, / and nothing is but what is not” (Act 1, Scene 3, lines 144, 147-152). Macbeth’s first thoughts of murder appear in this aside. He is wondering how the witches’ prophecies could be true.

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695 Words | 3 Pages

The bloody hand on the Castle is also meant to be a stain on the reputation of the Macbeth and Lady Macbeth; a stain symbolizes their guilty consciences (especially Lady Macbeth’s). But this stain is not only viewed by others, but by the owners themselves. For Lady Macbeth, her guilt slowly begins to prevent her from continuing in the seat of power, as seen by her death a few scenes after the visions of the blood-soaked hands. Blood is also represent the consequences of overreaching ambition as well as evil plans. Both play a role in the degrading of the morality and reputations of the Macbeths.

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339 Words | 2 Pages

Symbolism in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is abundant. I believe that the symbolism in Macbeth shown through supernatural elements is to help the reader understand what is going on in the movement or even in the future. One example of symbolism shown in Macbeth is the dagger scene in Act 2. The dagger floats in the air with its handle toward Macbeth's hand, and he feels as if he is being led by a force that is larger than himself, and as if his fate is out of his control.

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