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Examples Of Blood Imagery In Macbeth

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Examples Of Blood Imagery In Macbeth
Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare’s tragedies from the early 1600’s. Macbeth, once a nobleman who was the epitome of loyalty takes a turn and is overcome by ambition which can be attributed to the witches and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth rises to power but covered in blood. A major theme throughout the play of Macbeth is if a person commits an evil crime such as murder, he or she is incapable of fully escaping the sins and guilt that come with such actions. Throughout Macbeth, blood is a prominent image that enhances this theme throughout the play, ultimately demonstrating how a person can be stained from their sin and eventually their guilt. Early in the play, blood appears when Macbeth murders Duncan. When Macbeth murders Duncan he is stained …show more content…
At the beginning there is no mention or images of blood until Duncan’s murder. In David Artman’s essay, “Blood Imagery in Macbeth”, he states, “ A pattern established in Macbeth is that after each murder there is an abundance of blood imagery.” Blood provides a pace to the action in the play. The play utilizes the image of blood after Duncan’s death and becomes filled with bloody images that display Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s guilt for their sinful actions. Artman declares, “ Blood imagery, by setting the tone, pacing the wave of action, and characterizing the nature of the death and killings works to unify the action within the play.” Artman’s essay makes a reader go back and look at the action of the play and how the images of blood shed made the pacing of the play very nice. Rereading the play after reading Artman’s essay allows for the reader to fully comprehend how blood was of great prominence in the play and created suspense for readers. In the beginning of the play literal images of blood are displayed and then eventually hallucinations of blood come forth thus adding another facet of bloody imagery, which ultimately carries more weight than the actual blood. The imaginary blood adds to the play and enhances the theme of the play that if a person murder’s they cannot be easily unshackled from their sins and

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