Brendan Looney P.7 Mrs. Wudel AP English Lit. Macbeth Essay In the play 'Macbeth', symbolism is used very often to create imagery in a scene, and of all the symbols used, blood is one of the most important. Throughout Shakespeare's tragedy, blood is referenced frequently. Whether the word is used to create an image of a gruesome scene, or to symbolize the guilt of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, blood is prevalent both as a word and a theme of the play. From the very beginning of the second act of this play blood is used heavily to represent the horrible acts committed by Macbeth and his wife by killing King Duncan. 'Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood/ Clean from my hand?'(Act 2, Scene ii) This line is used to express the immediate guilt that Macbeth feels for murdering King Duncan. When Macbeth asks for Neptune's water to wash away the blood he is really asking for his guilt to be washed away, but is unsure if even all the water in the ocean could clean away what he has done. Macbeth also suffers from the guilt of having Banquo killed so much to the point that he sees his ghost at the banquet with the Thanes. 'Thou canst not say I did it: never shake/ Thy gory locks at me'(Act 3 scene iv) The word gory is used to create the image of Macbeth seeing Banquo in his bloody, murdered, state despite …show more content…
At the start of the story she instigates Macbeth to murder Duncan and washes away his blood without a shred of remorse, whereas Macbeth is mortified by his actions. This changes however the second time Lady Macbeth encounters blood with her shocked reaction to Macbeth killing Duncan's guards. Where Lady Macbeth initially stood unfazed, she now faints at the sight of the cruel acts that Macbeth has committed. This only worsens as the play progresses to the point where she hallucinates blood spots on her hands, representing the guilt she now cannot escape
Ha! They pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red. (Macbeth 2.2 58-64)
Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.” (V.i.l 25, 33-34). The blood symbolizes the guilt that Lady Macbeth has after being involved in the murder of Duncan. The Macbeths believe that cleaning their hands with water would make the sin of the murder not be in connection with them.
Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh!” (Act 5, Scene 1) Though she continuously rubs her hands to get rid of the blood, Lady Macbeth can not washed away the guilt that stains her hands.
After Macbeth has completed Duncan’s murder, he is consumed by guilt, saying how even “great Neptune’s ocean [won’t] wash [his] blood clean from [his] hand,” (Shakespeare 2.2.63-64). Lady Macbeth is disgusted by his culpability, retorting that “a little water clears [them] of this deed,” showing how little guilt Lady Macbeth feels and how easy she thinks killing Duncan was, even though she herself felt too guilty to complete the task (2.2.70). Shakespeare shows us how their relationship starts to deteriorate as bad things start to
Shakespeare uses the recurring symbol of blood to emphasize the effect of death and violence on the human psyche. The connotation that Macbeth associates with blood switches from a primary motivator to a guilty reminder. Prior to Duncan’s murder, Macbeth witnessed a floating dagger covered with blood (II.i.33). Macbeth had experienced violence and Blood is also used as a reminder of the guilt and trauma from the murder of King Duncan, the guards and Banquo. Macbeth refers to his hallucination of the ghost of Banquo: “It will have blood, they say.
No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red” (2.2. 60-63). Macbeth its prey of his guilt, he expresses his concern by taking notice of the blood on his hands that are proof of his crime and of his extreme guilt towards what he has done. At first, while Macbeth feels terribly guilty, his wife seems to have a clear conscience, despite her criminal acts and thoughts.
Over the years, several filmmakers have adapted this scene in their film adaptations of Macbeth, including Rupert Goold’s adaptation in 2010 and Joel Coen’s in 2021. While both of the directors capture the scene's haunting atmosphere and Lady Macbeth's unraveling psyche, their adaptations differ in terms of characterization and tone. This essay is going
He wonders if “all great Neptune’s ocean [will] wash this blood/clean from [his] hand” (2.2.78-9). Macbeth knows what he has done is wrong and he is shaken by his actions. Back then killing on the battlefield was much more respected than cowardly murder on a defenseless opponent. There was a purpose to fighting for an individual’s own country and brave soldiers were very highly revered. Macbeth is seen as this gallant and fearless warrior at the beginning of the play by his captains as they describe how “he unseamed [the enemy] from the nave to th’ chops” (1.2.24).
Macbeth indicates his guilt when he say’s "Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?”(2,2,61-62). He’s meaning if he would ever be able to forget about the deed that he has committed of killing the kind of Scotland Duncan. He also is saying that even the entire ocean could wash his hands clean of the blood. Macbeth feels that what he has done was wrong and shameful.
They pluck out mine eyes! With all great’s Neptune was this blood clean from my hand?” Macbeth’s thoughts after he murders Duncan, the king, show the mental torment he has put himself through. Him verbalizing his thoughts after the murder gives insight into the type of hell Macbeth is in.
Blood is something most people see as gruesome and disturbing, and not something ordinary people enjoy to be in the presence of. In the play Macbeth, the playwright William Shakespeare uses the motif of blood to expose a character's thoughts and personality. Blood is an important motif constantly shown throughout the play. Macbeth, the main character, thinks he can advance to the throne without any consequences. Blood exemplifies the guilt he is now stuck with, and due to Macbeth's excessive ambition, and overwhelming guilt, he is now faced with the consequences.
Macbeths guilty conscience makes him unable to play the ‘true’ role of a villain of the play. Macbeth begins to see ‘false creations’ before murdering Duncan; the image of a floating dagger taunts Macbeth’s senses. Macbeth is devoured in his anxiety he starts to hallucinate the crime before going through with it. Macbeth is unable to dispose thoughts of his guilt and doubt, which prevents him from being stuck at the point where it is too late to turn back, yet the fear of his nature prevents him from turning completely into a ruthless coldblooded
She makes it seem like it is simple to get rid of the thought that he just murdered the King by just washing the blood. While Macbeth inside is suffering from his guilt Lady Macbeth makes seem so effortless and acts like nothing happened. The thought questioning herself of what action she forced her husband to do or get involved in never crosses her mind. She gives him false hope on stating that everything will be fine if he just goes and washes all the blood and act absent-mindedly. Shakespeare is showing that “ cannot commit such crime without undergoing terrible inner torment and triggering self-defeating behavior”( Paris) shows that it is the less external consequences of his crime than the internal deterioration.
At the beginning of the play, blood can often be seen to symbolise strength, heroism and stereotypical masculinity. The Captain describes Macbeth’s efforts on the battlefield with imagery such as “ smoked with bloody execution” to display blood as a war trophy and badge of bravery. Shakespeare’s use of descriptive language such as “smoked” conveys a tone of achievement and grandeur: which in turn implies that the act of murdering men on the battle field is heroic and praiseworthy, as it is displayed in such an impressive manner. However, Shakespeare shows the audience a very different side to Macbeth after the murder of Duncan. Shakespeare displays Macbeth’s overwhelming guilt and remorse in the words “my hand will rather/ the multitudinous seas incarnadine making the green one red” in which Macbeth states that all the oceans of the world could not wash away the blood from his hands and therefore implies that there is nothing on
Macbeth, Crime and Punishment Macbeth, a warrior, earns the title of Thane of Cawdor early in the play. His wife, Lady Macbeth, wants him to become king like the witches prophesied. They make a plan to kill Duncan while Macbeth starts to kill other people. All this murder begins to weigh heavily on the Macbeth’s and they start going crazy with guilt.