Blood as an Image of Honor, Betrayal and Guilt in Macbeth.

Contrary to a representation of honor, Shakespeare creates images of blood to symbolize betrayal. Blood on the dagger Macbeth uses to kill Duncan represents the treachery to the king. Lady Macbeth betrays the truth of the murder with the intentions of framing the attendants “Carry [the daggers] and smear / the sleepy grooms with blood” (2.2.63-64). Another example of blood as a symbol of betrayal is the second apparition. Shakespeare uses a bloody baby to represent the witches’ betrayal of Macbeth. The seemingly reassuring apparition tricks him into a sense of false security, leading to his demise.

Shakespeare uses blood as a symbol of guilt with the character Lady Macbeth. She ridicules Macbeth for his morality, “Yet I do fear thy nature; / It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness,” and demonstrates that guilt does not affect her (1.5.16-17). She believes erasing the evidence of murder is simple, “A little water clears us of this deed;” and by doing so, guilt is erased as well (2.2.86). Although she consciously discards her guilt, in her sleep she envisions the blood of  Duncan; “Out, damned spot, out, I say! […] / Yet who would have thought the old man / to have had so much blood in him?” (5.1.37-42). Her subconscious guilt causes her to hallucinate and eventually kill herself.

Blood is most commonly used to represent a tragic death or injury; however, Shakespeare contrarily has it signify honor. Differing from honor, he also has blood symbolize betrayal and guilt. Macbeth feels guilt regarding the murders  as manifested by hallucinations and his inability to pray. Lady Macbeth demonstrates that she lacks guilt, although in her sleep she loses sanity which eventually leads her to her death. Shakespeare’s alternative approach to the image of blood creates diversity in the motifs of honor, betrayal and guilt.