Macbeth is a play written by Shakespeare that is full of symbolism. Some of the most common symbols in Macbeth are blood, the dagger, and the ghost.
Blood is often used as a symbol of violence or evil in Macbeth. For example, Macbeth sees a bloody dagger in his dreams, which he interprets as a sign that he will be king. The ghost of Banquo also appears to Macbeth covered in blood, which he takes as a sign that Macduff is coming to kill him.
The dagger is another important symbol in Macbeth. It first appears in Macbeth’s dreams, where it represents Duncan’s murder. Later, Macbeth uses the dagger to kill Duncan himself. The dagger also symbolizes Macbeth’s conscience, as he struggles with whether or not to go through with the murder.
The ghost is another significant symbol in Macbeth. The ghost of Banquo represents Macbeth’s conscience, as Banquo was a good man who was killed by Macbeth. The ghost also represents the guilt that Macbeth feels for his crimes.
Many symbols appear in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, which he uses to enhance his narrative. Blood, water, light, dark, rampant animals, and even the witches are examples of how Shakespeare utilized symbols to add depth to his drama.
These symbols were frequently recurring and were all connected with the play’s primary story. Blood is a symbol that appears several times in this play by Shakespeare. When Macbeth murdered Duncan, blood was first mentioned by him. The topic of blood was revisited when Lady Macbeth mentioned it after Duncan’s death; as well as others later on in the play
Macbeth sees blood as a symbol of guilt and Lady Macbeth sees it as a symbol of her cowardliness. Macbeth also sees water as a symbol of purification. After he commits his first murder, Macbeth goes to the river in order to wash the blood off his hands. Macduff later speaks of Macbeth’s “purified” hands and Macbeth claims that this act has made him a man fit to be king. Another recurring symbol in Macbeth is light. Shakespeare uses light to represent good while darkness represents evil.
In the beginning of the play, Duncan is murdered in his own home, which is filled with natural light. This juxtaposition is meant to show how Macbeth’s darkness has infiltrated even the lightest of places. Macbeth is also afraid of the dark and he refuses to sleep in a room that does not have a lit candle in it. Macbeth’s fear of the dark is symbolic of his fear of evil.
The witches are another example of a symbol used by Shakespeare in Macbeth. The witches represent the supernatural forces that are working against Macbeth. They also represent Macbeth’s own conscience, as they often times say things that Macbeth is thinking but will not admit to himself. The witches also foreshadow future events in the play, such as Macbeth’s death.
In the event of a calamity, blood was employed to signify guilt and pain as a consequence of Macbeth’s murderous rampage, which devoured him, and later drove Lady Macbeth to suicide. If blood represented death, guilt, and pain, water must represent purification and peace. In fact ,Pontious Pilate washed his hands in water after sentencing Jesus to be crucified during the Bible too.
In Macbeth, Duncan’s body is discovered by Macduff and Malcolm “With Neptune’s roring (roaring) water / He cleansed his bloody hands” (5.3.322-323). Macduff further observes the symbolism of water after Macbeth’s death, noting that “This sight is as the morning’s eye / Clearing away night’s cloudy black” (5.8.15-16). In other words, Macbeth’s death washes away the darkness that has consumed Scotland since he murdered Duncan and usurped the throne.
The use of symbols in Macbeth helps to create a more vivid and interesting story for the reader. Shakespeare’s clever incorporation of symbols allows the reader to draw connections between the events taking place in the story and the deeper meanings behind them. Blood, water, light, and darkness are just a few of the many symbols used in Macbeth, and each one contributes to the overall theme of the play.
Macbeth, on the other hand, claims that all of the water in the sea would be dyed crimson with his blood; thus I infer that blood was a far more potent symbol than water in this drama. In Macbeth, light and darkness were employed in an easy way. All that is good is represented by light, and it’s no coincidence that when a scene features Banquo or another of the pure victims from this play, the environment is bright. When a circumstance included murder or supernatural events such as those involving witches, however, a gloomy atmosphere was used instead.
Macbeth himself was also a symbol of light and dark. In the beginning of the play, he was honorable and noble, but as he became more corrupted by power, he became darker. This is shown through his clothing; in the beginning, Macbeth wore bright colors, but as he became evil, his clothing became black.
Throughout the play, Shakespeare employs symbols in a variety of ways. The sun, moon, and stars were three major symbols that occurred throughout the play and were utilized to convey the feelings of the characters properly. Shakespeare’s reliance on symbols is an essential component of why he is one of the finest playwrights in history, and it has kept his works live for future audiences.
One of the most important symbols used in Macbeth is blood. Blood represents both life and death, and Macbeth is constantly surrounded by it. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth’s hand is covered in blood after he kills Duncan. This event starts Macbeth’s spiral into madness, as the blood on his hands will not wash away no matter how much water he tries to use. The symbol of blood is also used when Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and trying to wash her hands clean. She says “What, will these hands ne’er be clean? No more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that: you mar all with this starting.” (5.1.30-32).
The blood on her hands is a symbol of her guilt from all the murders she has committed, and she can never get rid of it no matter how hard she tries. In the end, Macbeth is killed by Macduff, and his head is brought to Malcolm with bloody consequences. The symbol of blood is used throughout Macbeth to show the constant battle between life and death, as well as the guilt that comes with taking a life.
Another major symbol in Macbeth is water. Water is often used as a symbol of cleansing, but in Macbeth it takes on a different meaning. When Macbeth first kills Duncan, he tries to wash the blood off his hands in a basin of water. However, the water turns red and Macbeth’s hands are still covered in blood. This symbolizes Macbeth’s inability to cleanse himself of his sin, no matter how much he tries.
Water is also used as a symbol of death when Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and she talks about drowning her children. This is a symbol of her guilt from all the innocent lives she has helped Macbeth take. In the end, Macbeth is killed near a stream of water, which could be seen as his final cleansing before death.
In conclusion, Shakespeare uses symbolism extensively in Macbeth to give deeper meaning to the plot and characters. By paying attention to the symbols used, we can get a better understanding of what is happening in the play and what the characters are truly feeling.
