Macbeth :: essays research papers

I am going to prove that in the playMacbeth, a symbolization of air is portrayed often(and withdifferent meanings), and that it is a symbol that is developeduntil it is the dominating theme of the play towards the end ofit. To begin with, I found the r onlyying cry "blood", or differentforms of it forty-two times (ironically, the word fear is usedforty-two times), with several other passages dealing withthe symbol. Perhaps the best way to show how the symbolof blood changes throughout the play, is to follow the suit changes in Macbeth. First he is a brave honouredsoldier, but as the play progresses, he becomes atreacherous person who has become identified with oddmentand bloodshed and shows his guilt in different forms. Thefirst reference of blood is one of honour, and occurs whenDuncan sees the injured sergeant and says "What bloodyman is that?". This is symbolic of the brave hoagy who beeninjured in a valiant battle for his country. In the next passage,in whic h the sergeant says "Which smokd with bloodyexecution", he is referring to Macbeths braveness in whichhis sword is cover in the hot blood of the enemy. Afterthese few references to honour, the symbol of blood nowchanges to show a theme of treachery and treason. LadyMacbeth starts this off when she asks the spirit up to "makethick my blood,". What she is saying by this, is that shewants to make herself insensitive and remorseless for thedeeds which she is about to commit. Lady Macbeth knowsthat the evidence of blood is a treacherous symbol, andknows it impart deflect the guilt from her and Macbeth to theservants when she says "smear the sleepy grooms withblood.", and "If he do bleed, Ill gild the faces of the groomswithal, for it must seem their guilt." When Banquo states"and question this most bloody piece of work," and Rosssays "ist known who did this much than bloody deed?", theyare both inquiring as to who performed the treachero us actsupon Duncan. When Macbeth is speaking about Malcolmand Donalbain, he refers to them as "bloody cousins" A finalway, and maybe the most vivid use of the symbol blood, isof the theme of guilt. First Macbeth hints at his guilt when hesays "Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood cleanfrom my hand?", meaning that he wondered if he would everbe able to forget the dastardly deed that he had committed.Then the ghost of Banquo, all gory, and bloody comes to