Macbeth: Blood Motif

Behind the Blood: Macbeth

When most people think of anything involving Shakespeare, they conjure images of bromidic plays, prolonged speeches, and language that comprehending can be related to putting a puzzle together made of fancy pompous speech. What most people do not know though is that Shakespeare wrote for the common people. A prime example of this is the tragedy Macbeth. Macbeth is the play of a Scottish noble whose reckless ambition is brought out after hearing prophecies of monarchy from three witches. This leads Macbeth into a continuous cycle of murdering and maiming on his quest to becoming king of Scotland. Macbeth’s wild ambition gone unchecked creates a tyrant out of him, resulting in him being overthrown and slaughtered. Does not sound so boring does it? Despite Macbeth’s clear appeal to the normal working class citizen, Shakespeare, being the genius he was, implemented an astounding amount of literary devices such as themes, motifs, and symbols into Macbeth. A motif is a recurring structure, contrast, or literary device that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes. For example, blood is an obvious motif in such a gruesome play of murder and deception. Blood is everywhere in Macbeth from beginning to end, and use of the motif is profound throughout Macbeth.

Blood as a motif in Macbeth has many deeper meanings that most would be surprised to hear. Believe it or not, the image blood does not always have negative connotations, as demonstrated by the following quote, which takes place while King Duncan and his forces attempt to crush a traitor -“Duncan: What bloody man is that? He can report, as seemeth by his plight, of the revolt the newest state. Malcom: This is the sergeant who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought ‘gainst my captivity. Hail, brave friend! Say to the king the knowledge of the broil as thou didst leave it.” (Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 1-8). The captain returning from battle is injured and drenched in the...