Imagery In Macbeth :: essays research papers

Imagery in Macbeth     William Shakespeares play, (if indeed he did write it) Macbeth is rife with killing, and is probably only second in caudexiness to his in the low place play, Titus Andronicus. Not only is phone line a key part of the darn for obvious reasons, it is withal an example of imagery, representing several different symbols throughout the play. In the beginning, blood represents honor. Later, blood seems to show treachery. A the end of the play Shakespeare uses blood to show Macbeths guilt for whole his evil and greedy fares.      The first reference of blood occurs when Duncan sees the injured sergeant and says, "What blinking(a) man is that?" (1.2.1) The fag is referring to the brave messenger who has just returned from a war. Soon after, the bloody victor praises Macbeths deeds in battle, saying that he held his mark "Which have with bloody execution" (1.2.20), gist that Macbeths bravery was sho wn by his sword covered in the hot blood of the enemy.       After at first symbolizing bravery, blood soon becomes an image representing treachery and treason. When Lady Macbeth is essay to summon enough courage to have the king killed, she cries out to spirit to "make thick my blood," (1.5.50) pith that she wants to try and be as ruthless as possible so that she can perform this treacherous deed. Macbeth also calls the act of treason the ...bloody business... (2.1.60) In addition, Lady Macbeth knows that blood is evidence of treason, and so she shifts the blame onto others by telling Macbeth to "smear the sleepy grooms with blood," (2.2.64) Throughout act two, whenever a character speaks of Duncans murder, they always refer to it as the bloody deed or the bloody murder, showing that blood has taken on the meaning of treason.      In addition to treason, blood also represents guilt and regret in act two. Shortly after he has killed Duncan, Macbeth asks himself, "Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?," (2.2.78-79) meaning that he is already disturbed by his awful deed. Later, during the banquet scene, blood represents the guilt that haunts Macbeth. Banquos ghost (who is covered in blood) appears and haunts Macbeth, who says, ... they blood is cold..., (3.4.114) meaning that Macbeth feels guilty and is scared of Banquos cold revenge.      Blood as a symbol of guilt shows itself very well in the scene in which Lady Macbeth walks in her sleep.