A second reference, is in Scene 2, when Lady Macbeth spreads the blood from the dagger on to the unaware, sleeping servants "I'll guild the faces of the grooms withal, for it must seem their guilt". This is yet another example of a menacing and evil mention to blood, setting up the blameless servants of the king.
Once more blood is referred to when Malcolm and Donald bain are talking about what they will do and Malcolm says : "daggers in men's smiles: the nearer in blood, the nearer bloody." Suggesting that their nearby relations are most likely to kill them. Blood is once again being used to portray murder, treason and death.
In the sleepwalking scene, Act 5, Scene 1 , as Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking, there seems to be constant and steady references to the malevolence deeds that she and Macbeth have carried out, for the most part of which comprise references to blood. "Out damned spot! Out, I say" she says this as she goes through the action of cleaning her hands saying it in reference to the blood that has marked her hands after smearing it all over the kings servants. At this point she also refers to Duncan's murder "Who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him!". All of her references are of murder and together comprise of straight references to blood, over again connecting blood to betrayal and murder.
Right through the play, Shakespeare is effectively conveying the constant and continual theme of death, murder and treason using this significant symbol of blood. More often than not, the word blood makes people assume that some sort of injury or death has happened. Blood most definitely being an very important part of life, this representation of blood that is being used in the play is understood by its’ audience. And once again as it is being an essential part of everyone’s life, in the particular context that it is used, it is just the accurate figure of speech for death and murder. Blood is an effective symbol and in Shakespeare’s Macbeth is used very effectively and helps to convey the seriousness of the play very well.
