Blood Motif

The Blood Motif Shakespeare used many motifs through out the tragedy of Macbeth. These motifs help to create an underlying theme, each one developing on its own. The blood motif, which is the most, used one that is why I selected it. Shakespeare uses the blood motif to reinforce the theme that violence leads to more violence. The blood can also symbolize the guilt that Macbeth cannot escape from. Macbeth in this story starts off as a good guy, a respectable man. But after Duncan grants Macbeth the status of Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth gets greedy, and urged on by Lady Macbeth he does the ultimate act. He kills the king in his sleep. “And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, which was not so before” (II.I.46-47). This is where the guilt that Macbeth faces through out the rest of the play starts, just before he kills the king. After he kills the king he kills two more guards. “Go carry them and smear the sleepy grooms with blood” (II.ii.50-51}, this is where Macbeth kills the two guards, and it is here where he fully commits himself to this act. By killing the king Macbeth disturbed the natural balance of the world, because in the time it was believed that the king was appointed by god. The rest of the play after Macbeth kills Duncan is about him trying to escape from his guilt. This guilt will ultimately lead to his down fall. Then Macbeth feels that his crown is in jeopardy, so he decides to kill Banquo so that his assets will be completely protected. “For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; for them the gracious Duncan have I murdered” (III, I, .67-68), this is where Macbeth decides to have Banquo murdered, and it is with this act that he creates more guilt for himself, and which leads to madness. Macbeth later in the play decides to kill Macduff’s family “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, Seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line” (IV.i.156-159), Macbeth