Image Of Blood's Meaning example essay topic

Often times in literature imagery has a meaning and that meaning can grow and change as it continues. In Macbeth by Shakespeare the image of blood changes as the play continues. The image blood represents honor at the beginning, treachery and treason after that and ends with representing guilt. The image of blood shows up early in the play. It is used to describe the honorable Macbeth in reference to his battling for his country. "What bloody man is that?" (1.2.

1) Duncan says this when he sees a bloody Macbeth fresh from battle. It represents an honorable putting his health on the line for his country. It is said very admirably. "Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution". (1.2. 19-20) A captain says this complimenting Macbeth in battle in which he covers his sword with the blood of his enemy. Blood is used to describe honor and is used very positively in describing Macbeth.

As the play continues the image of blood has a different meaning. It starts to have more of a negative feeling, and more specifically represents treachery and treason. As Macbeth and his wife act less honorably and commit evil acts the meaning of the image of blood seems to change with them. "It is the bloody business which informs thus to mine eyes". (2.1. 60-61) This is said by Macbeth before he commits his first murder. The act of murder is being called a bloody business, which is meant in a betraying way.

By killing a man of his own country he is committing treason. In the same act Lady Macbeth uses blood in another negative way. "Smear the sleepy grooms with blood... If he do bleed, I'll grid the faces of the grooms withal, for it must seem their guilt". (2.2. 63-73) Lady Macbeth knows the evidence of blood is a treacherous symbol and she believes she will deflect the guilt from her and her husband to the servants. The image of blood at this part of the play has a very different meaning than it did before.

It is now a very negative thing and is about to get even worse. As the play concludes the image of blood's meaning again changes. When Lady Macbeth walks in her sleep she speaks of blood and show how it represents guilt. Out, damned spot, out I say! One, Two. Why then, 'tis time to do't.

Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who would " ve thought the old man to have so much blood in him? (5.1. 36-42) All these references are to murder and include direct references to blood, again linking blood to treachery and murder.

Yet, this speech represents the fact that she cannot wipe the bloodstains of Duncan off her hand. The guilt she is feeling cannot be wiped from her feelings; this is what the blood of Duncan represents. Just before the play ends Macbeth has Macduff at his mercy, yet he cannot kill him. "My soul is too much charged with blood of thine already". (5.8. 6-7) This shows that Macbeth feels guilty about killing Macduff for he has already killed from his family. Macduff has no problem with attacking Macbeth though.

"I have no words; my voice is in my sword thou bloodier villain" (5.8. 8-9) Here Macduff is calling a guilty man and uses the word bloodier as an insult and in reference to Macbeth being guilty. The image of blood transformed again, this time into a meaning of guilt. The meaning of the image of blood changes throughout the play.

It begins with meaning honorable, then changes to treachery and treason, and finishes with guilt. This also represents Macbeth and his family, they were an honorable family but then got overcome by evil and became treacherous and guilty people.