Symbolism in The Scottish Play In this dark play, the symbol of blood becomes quite apparent. Not only is this dire word mentioned over forty times, but it is also a driving and reoccurring figure that greatly affects a number of characters. Both Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, deeply feel the guilt and sin that is caused by this symbol. Blood is a haunting stain that symbolically does not leave the hands of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as it drives them to their downfall. The idea of blood in other works and novels typically evokes the idea of slaughter and massacre.
Deceiving Characters In Macbeth: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and the witches In the play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare there are many characters with appearances that are deceiving. The three characters that are deceiving are Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and the witches. Macbeth shows loyalty to King Duncan in the beginning of the play. Macbeth’s appearance is deceiving because later on in the play he ends up killing Duncan. Besides Macbeth, Lady Macbeth also shows her character is deceiving by planning how Duncan will be killed.
Macbeth Essay Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a play, which highlights individual’s thirst for power and the unethical paths many take to achieve their goals. The final scenes draw the dramatic tale to a close and cease the constant stream of murders. The audience observes the re-establishment of themes within the final scenes such as guilt, restoration of harmony, and good defeating evil. These along with significant events change the mood of the play consequently altering responders’ overall interpretation. Guilt is constantly seen throughout the play Macbeth driving the characters to question their morals.
Another example of blood portraying honor takes place later in the play during the death scene of Macbeth. Right before Macduff kills Macbeth, he tells the ill-fated title character, “My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier than terms can give thee out.” With this line, the audience knows that Macbeth’s pleas to have his life spared will not be answered by Macduff. In turn, this is a display of courage on Macduff’s part. Where betrayal is concerned, blood also symbolizes acts of murder and treason. One such allusion is mentioned in act 2, scene 1, during Macbeth‘s soliloquy.
In act 5 scene 1, Lady Macbeth observes a “spot” of blood on her hands but despite all her efforts she fails to remove it (5.1.33). The blood on her hands, however, is not literal but is a symptom as well as symbolism of the guilt her conscience holds for the murders she had a part in committing and concealing. There is imagery in blood in this play, after the murder of King Duncan Macbeth suggests that even “Great Neptune’s Ocean” could not wash their hands clean from the stain of guilt that murder had put upon them (2.2.78). Furthermore, there is specific imagery in the words “You see her eyes are open but her senses shut” in first scene of the fifth act of Macbeth (5.1.35-36). These words written by Shakespeare but spoken by the physician and waiting gentlewoman do not only refer to the manner in which Lady Macbeth acts in this scene but the way she acted in the second scene as well.
Monica Ellison ENG-3U1-02 Mrs. Medeiros Wednesday, October 27, 2010 “How Violence Leads to Guilt” In William Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”, symbolism is used multiple times to demonstrate the overall theme of violence. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses symbols of blood, sleep and hallucinations all to create a suspense that leads to violence which later leads to guilt. Shakespeare uses the symbol of blood to represent the guilt that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth feel after the violence has occurred. Sleep is used to symbolize the innocence, purity, and peace of mind, and when Macbeth kills Duncan it displays how violence occurs with sleep. Lastly, the symbol of hallucinations represents the outcome of violence which later turns into
Lady Macbeth Macbeth is a play with many different themes. It is a play of murder, betrayal, and supernaturalism. The many different changes between settings, along with the mysterious actions of each character, keep us interested in what is going to happen next. Of all the characters though, there is one character whose thoughts get the best of her. Although it is true that Lady Macbeth is a big part of the play and adds a lot of interest, her character is revealed through her unkind attitude with Macbeth, careless feelings towards the lives of others, and her guilty conscience.
Motifs in Macbeth Motif is a recurring element that gains significance as a literary work continues. In the book Macbeth, by William Shakespeare there are numerous motifs such as blood, sleeplessness, and darkness. Blood is a sign of evil and wrongdoing. After Macbeth kills Duncan he says, “He can’t wash the blood off his hands.” Macbeth says this because he has this feeling that he will always have that blood stained knowing how he feels guilty for killing Duncan. Macbeth describes Duncan as having had "golden blood," which contrasts with his own.
Laica Clerge Mr. MCAlmount A.P. English December 19 2011 Rhetorical analysis on Shakespeare Macbeth Shakespeare’s Macbeth edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine is a story of betrayal manipulation and greed. The story shows the reader an impact of the horror at the darkness in humans. Shakespeare use’s rhetorical devices such as imagery, irony, foreshadowing and aside. The devices make a suspenseful, shocking, spine-chilling play.
Shakespeare uses clever adjectives throughout the play, this enable to audience to fully understand the characters within the play. In the first act Macbeth is described as loyal, brave and noble, which portrays that Macbeth is a hero. The witches play a crucial part in the play Macbeth, as they are the ones who encourage such drastic character change from both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare has cleverly used the character of “witches" to portray a negative image straight away in the audience mind. “Speak I charge you” shows that Macbeth is more interested than he is trying to show.