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Imagery in Macbeth
Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare mentions the word blood, or different forms of it forty-two different times. Because of its frequent use, the image of blood throughout the play becomes a dominate theme.
The first sinister reference to blood is one of honor, showed in Act I scene ii. This occurs when
Duncan sees the injured sergeant and says "What bloody man is that?". This is symbolic of the
brave fighter who has been injured in a valiant battle for his country. In the next passage, in which
the sergeant says "Which smok'd with bloody execution," he is referring to Macbeth's braveness
in which he covers his sword in the hot blood of the enemy.
Act II, Scene ii. The symbol of blood now changes to show a form of treachery and treason.
Lady Macbeth starts this off when she asks the spirits to "Make thick my blood." What she is
saying by this, is that she wants to make herself insensitive and remorseless for the deeds that she
is about to commit. Lady Macbeth knows that the evidence of blood is a treacherous symbol,
and knows it will deflect the guilt from her and Macbeth to the servants when she says "Smear the
sleepy grooms withe blood.", and "If he do bleed, I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, for it
must seem their guilt."
Act V, Scene i - Lady Macbeth shows the most vivid example of guilt with the use of the imagery
of blood, in the scene that she walks in her sleep. She says "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 out power to account? Yet who have thought the old
man to have had so much blood in him?" All these references in the quotation are to murder and
both include direct references to blood, again linking blood to treachery and murder. Yet, this
speech represents the fact that she cannot wipe the blood stains of Duncan off her hand. It is
ironic that she says this, because right after the murder, when Macbeth was feeling guilty, she
said, "A little water clears us of this deed." When the doctor of the castle finds out about this
sleepwalking, he tells Macbeth, "As she is troubled with thick-coming fantasies," meaning that
Lady Macbeth is having dreams that deal with blood. Macbeth knows deep in his mind she is
having troubles with her guilt, but does not say anything about it. Act V, Scene viii - just before
the ending of the play, Macbeth has Macduff at his mercy, and lets him go, because of his guilt.
He shows that he is guilty, when he says "But get thee back, my soul is too much charg'd with
blood of thine already." Of which, Macduff Replies, "I have no words, my voice is in my sword,
thou bloodier villain than terms can give thee out."
After the death of Macbeth at the hands of Macduff, the imagery of blood swings back to what it
was at the beginning of the play. But, it is the honor of Malcolm this time. The death of Macbeth
is honored achievement that they congratulate Macduff for.
References to Blood
Duncan: "What bloody man is that?"
Sergeant: "...Which smoked with bloody execution..."
Act 1 Scene 7:
Macbeth: "When we have marked with blood those sleepy two..."
Act 2 Scene 1
Macbeth: "And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, Which was not so before."
Act 2 Scene 2:
Lady Macbeth: "Go carry them, and smear The sleepy grooms with blood."
Macbeth: "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red."
Act 2 Scene 3:
Lennox: "Their hands and faces were all badged with blood..."
Macbeth: "His silver skin laced with his golden blood..."Banquo: "And question this most bloody piece of work..."
Donalbain: "The near in blood, The nearer bloody."
Act 3 Scene 3:
Macbeth: "And with thy bloody and invisible hand..."
Act 3 Scene 4:
Macbeth: "Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time..."
Macbeth: "...thy blood is cold..."
Macbeth: "It will have blood. They say blood will have blood."
Macbeth: "I am in blood Stepped in so far that should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er."
Act 3 Scene 6:
Lord: "Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives..."
Act 5 Scene 1:
Lady Macbeth: "What, will these hands ne'er be clean?"
Lady Macbeth: "Here's the smell of blood still."
Act 5 Scene 8:
Macbeth: "...my soul is too much charged With blood of thine already."
Macduff: "...thou bloodier villain..."
Macbeth: "...With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed."
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