Macbeth believes his actions from the murder will stain the ocean red, because of the blood spilt on his behalf. However he can not rid himself of guilt anymore and admits himself that all the water in the ocean could not cleanse his hands. In time Macbeth comes to a realization that he will get what he deserves. Macbeth knows what he has done has been to a good king and he may not be able to live up to the expectations. For Macbeth and Lady Macbeth the blood represents their crime, and they can not escape the sin of their actions. After Macbeth killed Duncan, per her request, he appeared in front of Lady Macbeth with bloody hands and is instructed to wash it with water and put the evidence at the servants pillows so that they would take the blame for killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth’s role comes into fruition in scene two when she states that she would have the courage to kill Duncan but she did not because she resembled her father while she was sleeping. A bell is rung at the end of the scene and is a reminder to him that the things he is about to commit will either take him into heaven or hell. Macbeth questions himself on the fact if the dagger is and image of his mind or a false creation. The first use of blood appears in the soliloquy in scene one. The images of blood portrayed in the second act can be taken in a literal and figurative sense. Even though we see blood as an image of death, the use of blood in the first seen is used to balance out the negative connotations of blood that are still to come in the next four acts. Shakespeare makes sure he uses the motif, blood, not only to convey one central idea but several. As displayed, in order for blood to be a motif it has to be introduced and then continue to escalate in the play. The allusions to blood don’t take away from the actual purpose of blood, which is a source of life and places a vital role in keeping us alive. Not only did it signify bravery but it gave presence to Macbeth’s heroic qualities. It also represents the captain’s bravery even in the current state he was in. This mention of blood shows Macbeth and his willingness to kill, which then hints at the future of the play. Blood makes their conversation more serious because blood represents fight or war. The use of blood in Act I appeared in a conversation between Duncan and the Captain which was a foreshadowing to Macbeth’s bloodthirsty nature and his ruthlessness in committing murder.
![motifs in macbeth motifs in macbeth](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/macbeth-actv-161112165957/95/macbeth-act-v-12-638.jpg)
Get your custom essay onīlood plays a key role for the foundation of Macbeth as it is mentioned in every act of the play. The appearance of blood makes allusions to the text to reveal their uncontrollable, self consuming guilt.ĭon't use plagiarized sources. The placement and location of blood juxtaposes where Macbeth and Lady Macbeth would like to place the blame for the murders and where the responsibility is actually confined. The first glimpse of Macbeth makes reference to him being a killer who takes others’ lives for personal gain, many see this as a foreshadowing of the bloodier things to come in the rest of the story. Shakespeare also used blood to symbolize the characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and the guilt they suffered.
![motifs in macbeth motifs in macbeth](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/macbeththemesymbolmotif-130927153131-phpapp01/95/macbeth-theme-symbolmotif-1-638.jpg)
Blood will not only convey the idea of death and murder but also the idea of guilt. As blood is usually the symbol for violence or death in real life, it is used in addition, as a different type of symbol in Macbeth.
![motifs in macbeth motifs in macbeth](https://mtpstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/macbeth_square.jpg)
However, blood is one of the most prominent and well used motifs in the play. William Shakespeare, the author of Macbeth, uses an array of symbolism and motifs in Macbeth.
![motifs in macbeth motifs in macbeth](https://macbeth-modern-day-badromance.weebly.com/uploads/5/2/2/3/52238733/930586.png)
In any story the use of symbolism helps create meaning and emotion to convey the message behind that story while a motif is any recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story.