Motif+of+Blood+in+Macbeth

__Motif of Blood in //Macbeth// __

In William Shakespeare’s //Macbeth//, the motif of blood plays an important factor in the framework of the theme. A motif is a methodical approach to uncover the true meaning of the play. Macbeth, the main character in the play, thinks he can unjustly advance to the title of king without any variation of his honest self. The blood on [|Macbeth] ’s hands illustrates the guilt he must carry after plotting against [|King Duncan]  and yearning for his crown. __Additional notes and quotes: __

Shakespeare used the image of blood to portray the central idea of //Macbeth//: King Duncan’s murder. The crime is foreshadowed in the second scene of the first act. The king shouts, “What bloody man is that?” (I,ii,1) He is referring to a soldier coming in from battle. The soldier then explains to King Duncan Macbeth’s heroics in battle. One assumes that Macbeth is bloody just like the soldier. The soldier describes Macbeth in action “Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel, / Which smoked with bloody execution.” (I,ii,17-18) This line connects Macbeth with killing, and hints at the future.

The evil deed of murdering the king becomes too much of a burden on the Macbeths. The blood represents their crime, and they cannot escape the sin of their actions. Macbeth realises that in time he will get what he deserves. Since he cannot rid himself of his guilt by washing the blood away, his fate may have been sealed. They try to use water for vindication, but Macbeth says that all the water in the ocean could not cleanse his hands. He imagines the blood from the murder staining the ocean red. Lady Macbeth differs from her husband in this aspect. She believes her conscience will be cleansed as easily as her hands are physically cleaned. She tells her husband to have the same beliefs as she or he will be driven to insanity. Ironically, Lady Macbeth is the one that is driven to the brink of insanity as she commits suicide at the end of the tragedy.  Her guilt that she is unable to remove or face within herself is what causes her to eventually kill herself. __Additional notes and quotes: __

The image and scent of blood symbolises the unending guilt of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The blood on their hands represents their inability to erase the murder from their memories or from their consciences. While sleepwalking, Lady Macbeth was aggravated with own hands. She was seen muttering, “Out damned spot! Out, I say!” (V,I,39) This proves that her evil deed in still on her conscience. The odour of the blood also has the same effect. “Here’s the smell of blood still. / All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.”(V,1,58-89) Her imagination grows with dreadful pictures and she tries perfume to mask the aroma.

The [|motif]  of blood in //Macbeth// plays a significant role. It symbolizes the efforts the Macbeths go to to hide their horrid deeds. They imagine the blood never leaves their hands, and the truth never leaves their minds. The crime of murder carried a guilt that neither one could discharge.

Make notes on the use of the motif of blood when: <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Macbeth images himself wading in blood <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Macbeth refers to blood being better on the murderers than in Banquo <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lady Macbeth refers to the amount of blood in Duncan