Blood as a Symbol in Macbeth
Macbeth is one of Shakespeares most tragic and violent plays. It is only fitting, then, that blood is the main symbol throughout this sad tale. Representing honor, disloyalty, and guilt, Shakespeare uses blood to describe Macbeths desire to destroy his king, leading to the eventual downfall of his country.
The first mention of blood in Macbeth takes place early in the play. During act 1, scene 2, Duncan notices the injured soldier and states, What bloody man is that? This first reference symbolizes honor as the soldier (a sergeant) is returning from battle. He tells a story of Macbeths victory over Macdonwald and the King of Norway, lending even more honor to the symbolic blood covering his body. The manner in which Macbeth killed Duncan is just as bloody, splitting him from his navel to his lips. Such a kill would require a great deal of blood.
Another example of blood portraying honor takes place later in the play during the death scene of Macbeth. Right before Macduff kills Macbeth, he tells the ill-fated title character, My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier than terms can give thee out. With this line, the audience knows that Macbeths pleas to have his life spared will not be answered by Macduff. In turn, this is a display of courage on Macduffs part.
Where betrayal is concerned, blood also symbolizes acts of murder and treason. One such allusion is mentioned in act 2, scene 1, during Macbeths soliloquy. Macbeth sees a bloody dagger floating in midair and sees on the blade a dudgeon gouts of blood. These red blobs are one of the first to appear in the play as symbols of murder or an act of a vicious death, foreshadowing the fate of Duncan.
In act 2 , scene 2, Lady Macbeth smears blood from the dagger on the faces and hands of the kings drugged servants. This is an act of betrayal as she tries to place the burden of treason--by way of killing the king--on the innocent. Such an act of disloyalty is clearly a set-up in which Lady Macbeth tries to disassociate herself from the murderous objectives of her husband and herself. Later in this same scene, Donalbain also makes a reference to blood. He states, Theres daggers in mens smiles. The near in blood, the nearer bloody. These lines refer to the ultimate death of his father, Duncan.
With the murder of Duncan on her conscience, Lady Macbeth makes the most famous reference to blood in Macbeth in act 5, scene 1. Overwhelmed with guilt, she says, Out damned spot! Out I say! The spot of blood represents the shame she feels for Duncans death and continues, Yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him? The amount of blood refers to the fact that Lady Macbeth may never get over the guilt she feels.
Like his wife, Macbeth also feels a tremendous amount of guilt over the murder of Duncan. In act 2, scene 2, Macbeth questions whether he will ever be rid of his shame. Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red. Once brave, Macbeth has been weakened by his cruel ambition. Although reluctant to kill Duncan, Macbeth is pushed by his wife to do so, and, at this point, he will do anything to become king.
As a symbol, blood is referred to throughout Shakespeares Macbeth. Bravery, murder, and dishonor are all represented in this tragic play by this image. Good and evil are also represented by bloody images, mostly by acts of courage and the treacherous murders of which Macbeth finally becomes accountable. Blood is absolutely the perfect symbol for such a dreadful series of events.
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