Significance Of Blood In Macbeth

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The play of Macbeth illustrates the constant battle between one’s morals. One’s good conscious may inevitably be shadowed by one’s desire for wealth, power, and nobility which is seen demonstrated through the protagonist Macbeth. In the play Macbeth there is a constant recurrence of “blood” mentioned throughout the play. Blood symbolizes bravery and honor, guilt, and violence; the nature of violence arises from the inevitable desire for ambition. These ideas are constantly running through Macbeth. In part 1 scene 2 line 5 Malcom refers to the bloody soldier as a “brave friend”. Right from the start of the play we see how the violent outcome of war gives the essence of bravery to those who fought. The bloodshed of war gives the soldiers…show more content…
Before Macbeth goes through with his violent act against the King (Duncan) he says “That we but teach bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague th’ inventor.” in part 1 scene 7 lines 8-10. Here Macbeth is reflecting on the common idea of what goes around comes around. By acting so violently those actions will soon be brought back to that who started it. One’s malicious actions towards others will inevitably be inflicted towards themselves. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have committed a horrible act against the King (Duncan) and now Macbeth begins to associate “blood” with his guilty conscious. Macbeth says “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; This my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incardine, turning the green one red.” in part 2 scene 2 lines 60-62. Here Macbeth reflects on his murderous act. He says that the blood on his hands would fill the oceans rather than washing the blood away. Lady Macbeth had told her husband that a little water would rid them of the blood on their hands but ironically she too began to be consumed by her guilt. Her subconscious would continue to produce hallucinations of blood stains on her hands to show how she truly felt towards her actions. Macbeth and Lady Macbeths actions were driven by their ambition of gaining

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