What is the definition of blood? Google.com provides a definition that defines blood. It is the “red liquid that circulates through the arteries, veins, and muscles of humans and vertebrate animals, transporting oxygen to and carbon dioxide out of the tissues.”
William Shakespeare wrote the play Macbeth, which is about blood circulation. Blood is often associated to violence, death and/or guilt. Macbeth, Shakespeare’s most violent play, is clear. There are many deaths and murders in the play. The play uses blood to demonstrate multiple dramatic functions and symbolism. William Shakespeare decides to use the blood motif as his starting point for his play. Act 1, Scene 1, line 2, he wrote: “What Bloody Man is That?” This quote describes King Duncan’s view of a wounded person who has been contaminated by the war. The blood symbol is not just an image of a wounded man bleeding due to his wound. Shakespeare’s words make it seem that Duncan is aggravated by the sight of another man who is not distinguishable after so many people have been wounded. This line is a foreshadowing of what lies ahead. Duncan isn’t just talking about blood and wounds, he’s also the one Macbeth ends up killing. Blood is used throughout the play to symbolize guilt and murder.
Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 53 – 56 says, “And on the thy knife and dudgeon get gouts o’ blood. This was not before.” It isn’t such: it was the bloody business, which informs so to mine eyes.” This was Macbeth’s reaction to Duncan’s death. Macbeth is unclear about Macbeth’s murder as it depicts a bleeding dagger as a symbol for guilty murder.
Act 2, Scene 2: Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, and Macbeth talk about Macbeth’s deed which resulted in his hand being covered with blood. Macbeth, Lady Macbeth often mention blood in their conversation about the incident. Act 2, Scene 2, Lines76-80 also mentions “What hands is here?” Ha! They took my eyes out. Is all Neptune’s great ocean going to wash my blood clean? My hand will not take the blood from my hands. He feels guilt now because of the blood on his hands. The guilt he feels is not washable shows that he will never be free of it.
Act 2, Scene 2, Line 120 says, “Their faces and hands were all bloody;” This mention is mostly to advance the plot. Lennox tells Malcolm and Donalbain in this quote about the guards getting caught with blood on them, which was part of Macbeth’s plan. This quote refers specifically to Lennox’s part about the guards being covered in blood. This could also apply to Lady Macbeth or Macbeth. Shakespeare could also have made this comment to refer to Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s flawed characters. They are no longer considered good people after the murder but sinful and guilty of it.
Act 2, Scene 3, Line 150 describes Duncan’s death in “this most bloody work.” Banquo informs everyone that they will meet later to discuss the truth. “The scene is filled with a feeling of stress and exhaustion because the word “bloody” is used. It creates an atmosphere that makes everyone feel like they are suffering from the loss and the drama. Although there were many references made to characters in the play that dealt with blood, this time the theme of blood is not in any character’s dialogue or soliloquy. The second apparatus should begin when the stage direction occurs. It illustrates how Macbeth is impossible to kill by anyone who was born from a female.
Even though blood is not directly mentioned, it was an aspect that is present throughout the play.
Stage directions were to only be read by actors, blood was to be seen by the audience. Macbeth was influenced by his childish innocence and led to such wild ambitions that he eventually died. Blood is a key symbol throughout Macbeth’s play. This is evident in the scene containing the blood motif, Act 5. This scene is important for Lady Macbeth’s character and plot. This scene sees the gentlewoman and doctor witness Lady Macbeth sleepingwalking through the palace. Lady Macbeth has no dream and is instead thinking about Duncan’s assassination. It is evident that her confidence has changed and she now feels guilty.
Act 5, Scene 1 Lines 29-30 states that Duncan was soaked in blood at the time of his death. She is saying this because she was responsible for the bloody daggers being returned to her hands. Although blood represents guilt throughout the play’s history, this quote highlights how crucial it is. The quote’s blood motif shows how her mental illness has affected her. This quote is filled with blood. It shows that there are actions that can’t be reversed and people have to face them. Lady Macbeth didn’t manage it this time and ended her life by taking her own life.
Shakespeare’s most horrific tragedy is blood. But blood is not only a symbol for murder. The most consistent and relevant idea that blood conveys in Shakespeare’s play is guilt. This terrible guilt causes drastic changes in Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s minds. Macbeth drowns in blood, and Lady Macbeth becomes mad from the haunting red spot on his hand. It is evident that blood imagery is essential in Macbeth’s characterization, symbolism and other dramatic functions.