Macbeth: The Theme of Blood

In the play, Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses blood as a significant theme throughout. He uses this theme to help develop the characters of the drama. The use of this theme changes from the beginning of the play to the end.

At the very beginning of the play, after the Scottish army defeated Mcdonwald's army, a wounded sergeant describes the battle and how bravely Macbeth and Banquo fought. He describes, "For brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name- / Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel / Which smok'd with bloody execution, / Like valour's minion carv'd out his passage..." (Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 16-19)

In the wounded sergeants description of the battle blood symbolises bravery, courage, and patriotism. At this point in the play, Macbeth is loyal to King Duncan. These feelings about King Duncan's leadership do not stay the same for long because soon after the battle Macbeth and Banquo arrive to see three witches as they are travelling towards the king's camp at Forres. The witches give Macbeth a prophecy that he will soon be king. The third witch says, "All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be King hereafter." (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 50)

After the prophecy was given and Malcolm was named next in line for the throne, Macbeth knew that he would have to do something in order for him to be named king. He and his wife, Lady Macbeth began plotting to kill King Duncan. Lady Macbeth pressures Macbeth into murdering King Duncan.

Before Macbeth's successful attempt of murder on Duncan he imagines to see a dagger floating before his eyes. He describes it, "And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, / Which was not so before. There's no such thing: / It is the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes." (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 46-49)

In this passage, Macbeth relates blood to treason, ambition, and murder. This contrasts to what blood represented at the beginning of the play. At first, blood represented positive things such as bravery and patriotism, but then began to represent evil things, such as murder. This imagery also shows a change in Macbeth's character. A certain change beginning to be seen is his change from an honest and noble man into an ambitious, untrustworthy and deceiving man.

After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth begin to see a change in what blood represented to them. Both of them would realize their crime and try to wipe the blood off of their hands as if they were trying to get rid of the feeling of guilt that they had put on themselves. Macbeth would say, " Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather / The multitudinous seas incarnadine, / Making the green one red." (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 60-63)

Macbeth also experiences the same feeling of guilt when he sees the ghost of Banquo, who he also killed, sitting in his chair.