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Imagery In Macbeth - Online Essay

Imagery In Macbeth

William Shakespeare’s play, (if indeed he did write it) Macbeth is rife with killing, and is probably only second in bloodiness to his earlier play, Titus Andronicus. Not only is blood a key part of the plot for obvious reasons, it is also an example of imagery, representing several different symbols throughout the play. In the beginning, blood represents honor. Later, blood seems to show treachery. A the end of the play Shakespeare uses blood to show Macbeth’s guilt for all his evil and greedy acts.
The first reference of blood occurs when Duncan sees the injured sergeant and says, "What bloody man is that?" (1.2.1) The King is referring to the brave messenger who has just returned ...

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she wants to try and be as remorseless as possible so that she can perform this treacherous deed. Macbeth also calls the act of treason the “...bloody business...” (2.1.60) In addition, Lady Macbeth knows that blood is evidence of treason, and so she shifts the blame onto others by telling Macbeth to "smear the sleepy grooms with blood," (2.2.64) Throughout act two, whenever a character speaks of Duncan’s murder, they always refer to it as the bloody deed or the bloody murder, showing that blood has taken on the meaning of treason.
In addition to treason, blood also represents guilt and remorse in act two. Shortly after he has killed Duncan, Macbeth asks himself, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?," (2.2.78-79) meaning that he is already disturbed by his awful deed. Later, during the banquet scene, blood represents the guilt that haunts Macbeth. Banquo’s ghost (who is covered in blood) appears and haunts Macbeth, who says, “... they blood ...

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Imagery In Macbeth. (2007, April 30). Retrieved July 12, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Imagery-In-Macbeth/64143

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 4/30/2007 02:03:05 PM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 614
Pages: 3

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