Alternatively, as we progress through the play the symbolization of blood and the representation of Macbeth is changed. For instance, Shakespeare writes “It is the bloody business which informs thus to mine eyes”. Macbeth is saying that the dagger is referring to the murder he is about to commit. Macbeth says this as a soliloquy so the audience to here his thoughts and live his moments while he walks to Duncan’s murder. Whilst he walks to his destination, Macbeth imagines a dagger same as the one his carrying but with blood; with the handle on his side and blade pointing towards Duncan’s room. The phrase ‘bloody business’ refers to the murder Macbeth is about to commit, ‘bloody’ symbolizes how reckless and literally how full of blood the business (murder) is. This soliloquy signifies that Macbeth is hesitating to kill the king and he is battling his inner self reminding himself of his dignity as a soldier… he is about to murder a defenseless man while sleeping. Although Macbeth was having a second thought, he still committed the murder which unfortunately proves that he became a coward and traitor.
Eventually, the symbolization of blood represents Macbeth as a guilty murderer. This is proven when he says “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” Neptune is, to them, the god of seas. Blood here has a metaphorical theme/meaning; it symbolizes the guilt of the king’s murder. Macbeth is literally saying will all the water in the world wash my guilt? This is a rhetorical question followed by a “No” which connotes that he will never forget his guilt and will regret it all his life. Also, this restrains an exaggeration device to emphasise his humongous guilt.
Gradually, blood symbolizes that Macbeth has completely materialized from being brave and heroic into a coward and cunning murderer. For instance, Macbeth says “…and with thy bloody and invisible hand…” Macbeth is waiting for the night to come and his friendship with Banquo to brake so he could assassin him secretly. Macbeth says this before he murders Banquo. This quote is part of an extended personification in which the night is personified. The word ‘bloody’ connotes that Macbeth is planning on committing another ‘bloody business’… first, Shakespeare personifies the night with having a hand and then describes the hand with being blood all in order to expose Macbeth’s change in representation and to convince the audience that lust for power and wealth blinds people’s eyes. The word ‘invisible’ suggests secrecy; he will not be caught in the darkness of the night. It also signifies that Macbeth will stay away from the scene and plays the role of a puppet master in which the puppets are the assassins who assassinate Banquo. This will obviously draw the suspicions away from Macbeth and his wife. Also, I think that Macbeth wouldn’t kill Banquo with his own hand first because he doesn’t want to feel the penance and condemnation he felt when he assassinated Duncan, and second because Banquo is his best friend hence he said “…cancel and tear to pieces that great bond which keeps me paled!” so he could be freed from his friendship with Banquo (which kept him debilitated) and thus not feel repentant. In addition, in this quote, blood epitomizes strategy and surreptitiousness.
Progressing, blood symbolizes the power struggle and anxiousness Macbeth is facing near the end of the play. For example Macbeth says “It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood…” Macbeth is saying that once he starts killing he will continue for the sake of the throne. In this situation, blood metaphorically means power struggle. Shakespeare repeats the word ‘blood’ to emphasise the point and how paramount and portentous blood is. It is made into a formulaic equation which is supported by the play ‘Macbeth’; Macbeth has to keep killing in order to secure the throne. The fact that Macbeth is planning to return to the witches for advice signifies that he is anxious and dependent, instead of relying on his sword and mentality he is relying on the witches. Also, Shakespeare says “I am in blood, stepped in so far”, this connotes that Macbeth can’t back off anymore, he has stepped in so far that he is imprisoned by blood and can’t escape.
Unlike Macbeth, blood exemplifies Lady Macbeth of being a cunning and vicious person at the start of the play. For example, Lady Macbeth says in scene 7 “How tender‘ tis to love the babe…and dashed the brains out”. Lady Macbeth is saying if she had a baby and she had to sacrifice it for power, she would. Shakespeare wrote this to introduce the character, Lady Macbeth, and to show her real characteristics to the audience. The fact that she would kill her baby for the sake of power demonstrates how much lust for power she has and how blind she really is. Instead of the word blood or murder, Shakespeare utilizes ‘dashed’ to insinuate that Lady Macbeth is ardent desperately for absolute power, due to the fact that she is athirst to smash the brains out of her baby.
Furthermore, blood symbolizes the authority and control of Lady Macbeth in her relationship over Macbeth. For instance, Lady Macbeth says in scene 9 “Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there: go carry them, and smear the sleepy grooms with blood.” Lady Macbeth is scolding Macbeth for returning the daggers with him after he murdered Duncan. The fact that she is questioning him ‘?’ and then ordering him ‘go’ is bizarre and signifies that she is the one in control; she is acting more like the man in the relationship because in their time, men dominated the women in their relationship. This indicates that she is manipulative, influential, dominant and in control of Macbeth hence she orders him around and questions his personality Also, she is telling him to not only to carry them back, but she is telling him to wipe Duncan’s blood over the ‘sleepy guards’. In addition, Lady Macbeth scolds Macbeth and says “infirm of purpose” which is describing him of being decrepit and effeminate. She is making him feel ignominious for not accomplishing the ‘bloody business’ delicately without frustration; especially that he kills a lot of people since he is a war hero.
Analytically, the blood symbolization represents Lady Macbeth’s lust for power and authority in the middle of the play. For example, Shakespeare writes “Give me the daggers. If he do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, for it must seem their guilt.” In this quote, Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth to give her the daggers so she returns them to Duncan’s room and wipe the guards’ faces with blood so they are framed and hence accused for the murder of Duncan. This demonstrates how willing Lady Macbeth is for the sake of the throne, this shows her desire for power. The fact that she is keen to frame the guards signifies how cunning and callous she is. Also, the fact that she is eager to dip her hands in Duncan’s blood shows how powerful yet disgraceful she is to even torture and spill around the blood of a dead person.
Moreover, blood continues to symbolize that Lady Macbeth is a powerful and manipulative she is. For instance, Lady Macbeth says in scene 9 “My hands are of your colour; but I shame to wear a heart so white.” Lady Macbeth is saying that she has blood on her hands just like Macbeth but she shames to surrender at this early stage. This indicates that Lady Macbeth has a potent personality due to the fact that she is able to handle the stress and has no remorse whatsoever. Also, Lady Macbeth is scolding and humiliating Macbeth by acting so calm and normal, unlike her husband. I also feel that Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth not act so innocent because he just murdered the king and is as guilty as her. Besides, Lady Macbeth replies to his none sense about “will all great Neptune’s…” by saying “A little water clears us of this deed”. This means that a little water will wash the blood of their hands. The word “deed” refers to the murder and blood suggesting that blood is like dirt that could be washed easily by water. This quote also verifies that she is acting normal and calm because is treating blood as nothing more than ‘blood’. This entire exemplification of blood for Lady Macbeth is utterly unconventional in Shakespeare’s time. Shakespeare deliberately twists the reality and expectations of the people through articulating the personalities and characteristics of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth antithetically; Macbeth is expressed effeminately whereas Lady Macbeth is portrayed in a virile and masculine way.
On the contrary, the whole symbolization of blood changes the representation of Lady Macbeth and represents her as an utterly different character at the end of the play, by demonstrating that she has finally felt the enormous remorse and regression she has been ignoring. For example, in scene 18 Lady Macbeth says “Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him? Here’s the smell of blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not this little hand.” Lady Macbeth is sleep walking when she says all of this. The reference of the first ‘blood’ is all troublesome and difficulties they have confronted after killing ‘the old man’ referring to Duncan. Shakespeare utilizes an exaggeration device the same way he utilizes it when Macbeth says “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” Shakespeare notifies the audience that Lady Macbeth has finally smelt the blood on her hands. The reference of the second ‘blood’ has a metaphorical theme which is guilt. Shakespeare also uses a metaphor when he writes “Here’s the smell of the blood still” to show that she has finally felt the remorse. Eventually, Lady Macbeth gets what she deserves; she becomes paranoid and commences hallucinating. Thus, now she feels the guilt, she regrets what she has perpetrated and as a consequence she starts confessing and exposing her actions whilst sleep walking as if she is confessing to a priest and asking for forgiveness. Besides, Lady Macbeth almost replays the scene when Duncan gets killed and starts to scold Macbeth, momentarily, about being frightened but then literally reassuring Macbeth; yet, she is really reassuring herself and reminding herself that Duncan and Banquo are in their graves. Shakespeare utilized a soliloquy to expose Lady Macbeth’s thoughts to the audience. Lady Macbeth manifest her guilt and remorse while sleeping because she is unconscious then; when she is awake, she is strong enough to keep control over her guilt from manifesting but when she’s sleeping she is unconscious and vulnerable. The delineation has altered ironically from being exposed as cunning, vicious, stalwart, tough and potent to being manifested as weak, vulnerable, delicate, regretful and finally defeated, overwhelmed and devoured by guilt.
In conclusion, the message/moral Shakespeare is endeavouring to convey to the audience through the tragedy Macbeth is written in the play; in scene 14, Shakespeare writes “blood will have blood”. This quote is still relevant to our period of time because people are still endeavouring and attempting to assassin presidents and kings in order to gain power and praetorian, by corruption. For example, George W. Bush, president of the USA, was under an assassination attempt on the 5th of May, 2005 in Georgia. Also, Barrack Obama was under an assassination attempt on the 26th of August, 2008 and Hillary Clinton is thought to have a hand in this.
Verily, this is supported by the play because the Macbeths both die at the end of the play… Macbeth gets killed in a battle by Malcolm, Duncan’s elder son, and Lady Macbeth commits a suicide led by insanity, distraught and obsession.
In addition, Shakespeare used a variety of literal devices in order to dramatically interest and attracts the audience’s attention. He also, utilizes soliloquies to great effect in order to reveal the characters' personal thoughts, emotions, and motives without resorting to third-person narration. Solely, Shakespeare exploited blood to play a vigorous and vital role in the play in order to symbolize each character through his own way.
Finally, the play started with a “bloody execution” and ended with a “bloody execution” to demonstrate that everyone deserved what they gained according to their actions, which also relates to a religious moral/theme.
