The Reoccurring Motif Of Blood In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'
Blood
Throughout Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, the motif of blood is a reoccurring motif. Blood is used everywhere in Macbeth, the beginning in the battle field scenes all the way to the very end. The words ‘bloody’ and ’blood’ are repeated on almost every page. This draws importance to the motif. The motif of blood plays an important factor in the framework of a major theme. It leads us into the theme of guilt, which is how Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth feel throughout the whole play. It also is used to portray other characteristics such as bravery and treason. We see that this motif develops and changes use throughout the play.
Shakespeare uses blood to show honour and bravery as well as guilt. In act 1 scene 2 a ‘Bloody Sergeant’ enters. He represents a brave soldier who fought courageously in the war. The sergeant speaks of Macbeth saying ‘Which smok'd with bloody execution’ meaning that Macbeth is being praised and rewarded for killing the enemy and is seen as a brave and loyal soldier. This is one way in which Shakespeare uses the motif of blood to portray bravery, honour and strength. We also see the imagery of blood when Macbeth kills Madonwald in battle: “Till he unseamed him from the nave to th' chops”. This strikingly vile image of Macdonwald’s violent death …show more content…
Further in the play, the audience learns of her sleepwalking patterns. In this state, she reveals the murder to the Doctor. Lady Macbeth is seen trying to wash her hands over and over again, though no amount of cleanliness can rid her of this ‘damned spot’: “What, will these hands ne'er be clean?” This is ironic as Lady Macbeth herself was the one who persuaded Macbeth into killing Duncan. We see Lady Macbeth start to crumble in the second half of the play, and finally her guilt becomes overpowering as she commits suicide at the end of the play. This is how Shakespeare uses the motif of blood to portray the theme of guilt in the
Throughout Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, the motif of blood is a reoccurring motif. Blood is used everywhere in Macbeth, the beginning in the battle field scenes all the way to the very end. The words ‘bloody’ and ’blood’ are repeated on almost every page. This draws importance to the motif. The motif of blood plays an important factor in the framework of a major theme. It leads us into the theme of guilt, which is how Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth feel throughout the whole play. It also is used to portray other characteristics such as bravery and treason. We see that this motif develops and changes use throughout the play.
Shakespeare uses blood to show honour and bravery as well as guilt. In act 1 scene 2 a ‘Bloody Sergeant’ enters. He represents a brave soldier who fought courageously in the war. The sergeant speaks of Macbeth saying ‘Which smok'd with bloody execution’ meaning that Macbeth is being praised and rewarded for killing the enemy and is seen as a brave and loyal soldier. This is one way in which Shakespeare uses the motif of blood to portray bravery, honour and strength. We also see the imagery of blood when Macbeth kills Madonwald in battle: “Till he unseamed him from the nave to th' chops”. This strikingly vile image of Macdonwald’s violent death …show more content…
Further in the play, the audience learns of her sleepwalking patterns. In this state, she reveals the murder to the Doctor. Lady Macbeth is seen trying to wash her hands over and over again, though no amount of cleanliness can rid her of this ‘damned spot’: “What, will these hands ne'er be clean?” This is ironic as Lady Macbeth herself was the one who persuaded Macbeth into killing Duncan. We see Lady Macbeth start to crumble in the second half of the play, and finally her guilt becomes overpowering as she commits suicide at the end of the play. This is how Shakespeare uses the motif of blood to portray the theme of guilt in the