Examples Of Imagery In Macbeth

In every piece of literary work their are certain devices that the author uses to emphasize the theme and help make their point. One commonly used device is imagery which is word pictures used by a writer to illustrate, illuminate, or embellish their thought. Throughout Macbeth William Shakespeare uses the imagery of blood to illustrate how the want for power can make people do things that they would normally never think about doing.
Blood usually represents death and killing especially throughout Macbeth. In the play there are many places where blood is used to create vivid scenes in the audience's head. One example of this imagery is when Shakespeare writes “Enter Macbeth with bloody daggers” (Shakespear 55). This occurred right after Macbeth had killed Duncan. This illustrates to the audience the killing and the bloody aftermath. It shows how it immediately changed Macbeth. His thirst for power disregarded his morals and caused him to kill an innocent man just so that he could wear the crown.
This creates an image in the audience's mind of the blood from Duncan on Macbeth's hand and the mess it has made. This shows the lengths Macbeth was willing to go to, to become king. Along with that it shows how it caused him to do something that he would never imagine doing, which is killing someone. He talks about how not even “Neptune’s ocean” will be able to remove the blood from his hands or the guilt from his conscience. He is creating the image of how nothing will ever be able to clean his conscience and he will not be able to take back what he has done. Using “Neptune’s ocean” emphasizes his point of how Macbeth has done something that he wish he hadn't and how now there is no turning