The Symbolism Of Blood In Macbeth By William Shakespeare
There are many different symbols used in Macbeth, such as nature, weather, witches, and sleep. The symbol that is mentioned throughout the play is blood, and it has a very deep and heavy meaning. Throughout the entire play, blood is mentioned multiple times due to all the murders committed. Macbeth shows many different meanings for blood, but the one that is displayed the strongest is guilt. The mood, the repetition, and In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the blood that is shed in the murders symbolizes the guilt that destroys their mind because of the murders. First, the mood conveyed throughout the entire play Macbeth is very serious, dark, and unnerving. The reason that it is so serious, dark, and unnerving is because there are multiple
murders committed such as Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macduff, and Lady Macduff’s son. In Act 2, Scene 2, Line 60-61 says, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood, clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather” (2.2.60-61). These lines in the play are discussing that Macbeth wants to wash the blood off of his hands. Although Macbeth could just simply was the blood off of his hands, the memories of the murders that he assisted in will be in his mind forever. “Modern analyses of Macbeth have generally concentrated on its principal character--his struggles with his conscience and fate, his descent into corruption, and his ambivalent status as a tragic and sympathetic figure” (Macbeth 2). Macbeth had a lot of internal problems that he was having to deal with such as struggling with his conscience, and committing the murders did not help his conscience become any better. The meaning behind the blood is similar to the conscience issues that he has because his internal issues will not go away which is similar to Macbeth not being able to wash away his memories of the murders.
murders committed such as Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macduff, and Lady Macduff’s son. In Act 2, Scene 2, Line 60-61 says, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood, clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather” (2.2.60-61). These lines in the play are discussing that Macbeth wants to wash the blood off of his hands. Although Macbeth could just simply was the blood off of his hands, the memories of the murders that he assisted in will be in his mind forever. “Modern analyses of Macbeth have generally concentrated on its principal character--his struggles with his conscience and fate, his descent into corruption, and his ambivalent status as a tragic and sympathetic figure” (Macbeth 2). Macbeth had a lot of internal problems that he was having to deal with such as struggling with his conscience, and committing the murders did not help his conscience become any better. The meaning behind the blood is similar to the conscience issues that he has because his internal issues will not go away which is similar to Macbeth not being able to wash away his memories of the murders.