Imagery In Macbeth Essay example

     The second type of literary device that Shakespeare uses in Macbeth is symbolism. The predominant symbol is blood and is used as an effective method to describe the theme of the play. Not only does blood symbolize bravery, it is also a means of showing treachery and treason and probably most importantly, guilt. One example of bravery occurs when the captain says, "For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name--/Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel,/Which smoked with bloody execution"(1.2.16-18). Soon after this blood changes into a representation of treachery and treason. Lady Macbeth asks the spirits to "Make thick my blood,/ Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse" (1.5. 43-44). She asks the spirits to take away compassion and make her remorseless for the actions she is about to take. Also, when Ross asks, "Is’t known who did this more than bloody deed?" (2.4.22), he tries to figure out who performed the disloyal act of murdering the king. Blood is also used many times to express the guilt-ridden consciences of the characters. For instance, Macbeth says, "What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine own eyes!/ Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash the blood/ Clean from my hand?" (2.3.58-60). Macbeth obviously feels guilty for killing Duncan in cold blood. Later in the play, Lady Macbeth

Macbeth is the ultimate story of a fight between the forces of good and evil. It tells the tale of a tragic hero whose quest for power leads to his ultimate downfall. Macbeth starts out as an honorable warrior but changes when his ambition becomes uncontrollable. As he becomes increasingly paranoid, Macbeth uses violent means to eliminate threats to his Scottish throne. As the play progresses, blood continuously plays a part in the events as the murders become more frequent. William Shakespeare, the author of Macbeth, uses blood imagery to develop Macbeth’s character, create a foil in between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and to symbolize honor and guilt.

Shakespeare employs a great deal of imagery to depict certain situations, for example he uses the image of blood many times. At this stage in the play Lady Macbeth is confident while Macbeth is subject to frightened loyalty. However, what Macbeth fears is evil of committing the evil deed rather than the evil deed itself. It is al this stage that one can first realise a chink of humanity in the originally confident and cold lady Macbeth. The murder has just been committed and Lady Macbeth relates to Macbeth how the assassinated Duncan appeared to her. “Ha he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done’t.” Suddenly through the hard exterior that Lady Macbeth possesses, she sees her father as the old man lying murdered on the

Shakespeare uses the symbol of blood in MacBeth to represent treason, guilt, murder and death. These ideas are constant throughout the book. There are many examples of blood representing these three ideas in the book.

Blood is another motif throughout the play. The language used to describe Macbeth’s anguished state is extraordinarily effective in terms of imagery and detail. When Macbeth looks at his hands and thinks they are a “sorry sight” and his hand “will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red” (2.2.58). Shakespeare uses personification to manipulate Macbeth’s bloody hands as witnesses to the murder when Lady Macbeth urges him to “wash this filthy witness from your hands” (2.2.50).

Perhaps the best way to show how the symbol of blood changes throughout the play is to follow the character changes in Macbeth. First he is a brave honored soldier, but as the play progresses acknowledged and trusted by his king, he becomes a treacherous person who has become identified with death and bloodshed, and

Throughout the play Macbeth, Shakespeare uses blood imagery to show the guilt, revenge, and violence felt by the characters. Through blood imagery Shakespeare portrays Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s conscience. In the story blood imagery gradually haunts and alters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s characters. Although some of the feelings they experience due to blood imagery terrifies them, it does not stop them from doing some of those acts again.

The play, “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare is all about greed and overthrowing people to get power. This play has a lot of murdering involved in it, therefore, there is plenty of bloodshed throughout the play. “Macbeth” is known as Shakespeare’s bloodiest plays that he has ever written. Blood in the play symbolizes murder and in some ways in the play it can symbolize bravery and honor. It also symbolizes guilt for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and the actions that they commit during the play. Blood is important to the play because it helps to set the plot of the story.

Blood is typically used as a symbol of death, violence, betrayal and pain in writing, and in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, this motif allows the audience to easily track the characters’ thoughts, feelings and motives. When Macbeth begins his murder spree at the beginning of the play, blood is used to symbolize the guilt he is feeling, and this symbol is developed throughout the play. Through this symbol, the audience can see Macbeth and Lady Macbeth change throughout the play and helps the audience better understand the play as a whole. Both the real blood and imagined blood mentioned in the play helps depict the guilt both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth feel for their horrible actions. Bloodshed and death is a recurring motif found in

In Shakespeare's Macbeth a play, a man named Macbeth goes through a great transformation; Macbeth goes from being a heroic general in the king's army to an assassin and a tyrant. The theme of the play is never give into evil because it destroys no matter what the benefits are. Blood Imagery is very important in the play; it shows Macbeth's evil ambition in the beginning, middle, and end of the play.

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a theme of dealing with severe guilt is created by the author’s use of imagery and personification. Imagery is defined as the use of descriptive words to help the reader visualize a scene. Personification is a literary device in which the author gives inanimate objects human attributes.

In the play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare conveys many important messages and meanings using symbolism. One of the most prevalent symbols contained in this play is that of blood or the color red. Throughout the play, the meaning of the symbol shifts to shed a whole new light on the situation. Through the very early acts of the play, blood is very prevalent. However, in these earlier acts such as act one, the blood symbolizes distress and torment.

Another way the word "blood" is used as imagery in the play is before Macbeth comes home to his wife. Lady Macbeth says "And fill me from the

     In the play ‘Macbeth’, Shakespeare uses brutal imagery, with association of blood.  The mood of disgust and horror towards the characters and setting is established by the references to the universal representation of death and pain. The first mention of blood seems to establish a sense of honor. The second mention of blood seems to communicate betrayal.  Lastly the third allusion of blood appears to establish a sense of guilt All of these images of blood help develop the atmosphere and scene and contribute to the over all drama of the play.

One of the most important types of imagery used by Shakespeare is the clothing imagery in Macbeth. The English playwright has used it to show two main ideas related to Macbeth’s psyche. First, the idea that clothes can symbolize power, and second, that they can be used as a mask to cover up evil deeds.