l. Both she and Macbeth reach this lowest depth at different times during Shakespeares short play. Macbeths character becomes more treacherous as ambition drives him further and further away from the honorable character portrayed in the beginning lines. Lady Macbeth is hardened and remorseless even as she looks upon the bloody result of their evil plan.This, however, is not the last of Shakespeares use of blood imagery. The third, and perhaps most often used symbol of blood, is as a representation of quilt. (Zecscrab, 2) This representation first becomes present when Lady Macbeth insists that Duncans blood be smeared on the faces of the servants. This was done to lay the blame for the Kings murder upon someone elses head. Whoever is splattered with the kings blood should be charged with treason and murder. Regicide was the ultimate of treacherous acts during the periods in which Shakespeare introduced Macbeth. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, in November of 1605, the famous Gunpowder Plot took place. The English public had been profoundly moved by a true case of attempted regicide. This bloody portrayal of Shakespeares was truly a sure way of catching the publics interest. In fact, this crime called for the ultimate of punishments. Lady Macbeth was spurred on by the consequences of such a deed. She demands that the faces and hands of the sleeping servants be smeared with King Duncans blood. She boldly states, Ill guild the faces of the grooms withal, for it must seem their guilt.(Act, Scene 2) After examining the crime scene, Macbeth begins to fret over his murderous deed. Regret and guilt lives for a brief time in Macbeths mind. He exclaims, Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous sears in carnadine make the green one red? (Act II, 2, line.78) Macbeth is acknowledging the water in the earths oceans, could wash his hands clean of the...
