on this most bloody piece of work"(2.3.150), and Ross asks "ist known who did this more than bloody deed?"(2.4.31), they are both inquiring as to who performed the treacherous acts upon Duncan. When Macbeth is speaking about Malcolm and Donalbain, he refers to them as "bloody cousins" A final way, and perhaps the most vivid use of the symbol blood, is of the theme of guilt. First Macbeth hints at his guilt when he says "Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?"(2.2.78), meaning that he wondered if he would ever be able to forget the dastardly deed that he had committed. Then the ghost of Banquo, all gory, and bloody comes to haunt Macbeth at the banquet. The sight of apparitions represents his guilt for the murder of Banquo which he planned. Macbeth shows a bit of his guilt when he says "It is the bloody business which informs thus"(2.1.60), he could not get the courage to say murder after he had killed Duncan, so he says this instead. right after the murder, when Macbeth was feeling guilty, she said "A little water clears us of this deed(2.2.86). Again, blood is referred to when Malcolm and Donaldbain are discussing what to do and Malcolm says : "theres daggers in mens smiles: the nearer in blood, the nearer bloody"(2.4.165-166) Meaning that their closest relatives are likely to kill them. Again, blood is being used to describe treason, murder and death. Throughout the play, Shakespeare effectively conveys theme of death, murder and treason through the symbol of blood. Normally, the word blood makes us think about injury and death, being an essential part of life, and the symbol of blood being used in the play is understood by the audience as being essential to life, and in the context it is used, it is a perfect metaphor for death and murder. The development of the blood symbol coincides with the character changes in Macbeth and also the mood of the play in general. First, Macbeth is a brave and honorable so...
