Symbolism of Blood, Water and Weather
Virtually all of Shakespeare's most prolific works are accompanied by symbolism. In this respect, his vaunted Macbeth is no different. This tale of betrayal, murder and revenge is so timeless in large part due to the author's copious deployment of symbolism which helps to shape the plot and provide more than a little foreshadowing. The prudent reader can easily discern the fact that there is a repetition of three of the most widely used symbols in this play: weather, water, and blood. These symbols are more prevalent than any others through this dramatic work largely due to what they symbolize: bad omens, purity, and murderous guilt. Furthermore, at least one of these symbols is present in virtually all of the major developments in this play. A careful analysis of symbolism in Macbeth reveals that all of these symbols are potent reminders of the evil tidings of the play and the ill fate of its chief protagonists, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Such a thesis certainly applies to the symbol of blood. There is hardly an important passage in this work in which blood is not invoked. Furthermore, the several instances of murder in the play provide plenty of instances for blood to flow. Still, the more telling references to blood are those in which there is no literal blood seen, but in which it is referenced for its figurative or symbolic value. In virtually all of these instances blood serves as a reminder of murder and, for the most part, betrayal. Macbeth and his wife are guilty of murdering their king, Duncan. Macbeth's wife's guilt is implied when Macbeth thinks aloud about her "bloody instructions" (Act I, Scene vii, 9). Shortly thereafter, Macbeth obsesses about the blood of the murder. An incisive interpretation of this passage reveals he is not referring to the literal application of blood, but rather to its symbolic value. Specifically, he observes: "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 II, Scene ii, 58-61) It is apparent that Macbeth is not referring to blood from the murder in the literal sense, due to the imagery employed in this passage. He states that not even all of the water in the entire ocean (which is ruled by Neptune) is enough to wash the blood from his hands after he has killed Duncan. Literally, there is enough water in the ocean's to do so. Symbolically, however, the blood that Macbeth talks about is represents his own murderous guilt. Quite simply, Duncan's former thane does not feel as though he can ever wash the blood from his hands for killing his king -- because he knows he committed an act of betrayal that he innately regrets. Thus, it is...
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