In 1606 the prolific writer Shakespeare wrote the tragedy Macbeth. This play is based on the actual King Macbeth who reigned between the years of 1040 and 1057. One of the most distinguishing characteristics of Shakespearean tragedies is the use of imagery to emphasize the theme of the story. Imagery is the figurative language or mental pictures that enable the author to show the significance of specific actions and by using the vivid language of imagery William Shakespeare allows his theme the be visualized by his readers. The central theme of the play is “Things Are Not Always What They Seem” or “Fair is Foul, Foul is Fair” and by repetitiously using imageries of blood, nature and prophecies throughout the play Shakespeare allows the reader to acquire a viewpoint on the entire play which is the central theme of the play.Blood is an image that rises continuously throughout the tragedy of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene serves as an image of blood in it’s relation to a person’s conscience. In Act 5, Scene 1 Lady Macbeth states “Here’s the smell of blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh! oh!” In this line Lady Macbeth is revealing how she subconsciously feels about King Duncan’s murder. Shakespeare shows her true character in comparison to her original character. Originally, Lady Macbeth was thought to be emotionless and cruel, especially when she said “ Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead are but a pictures: ’tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt.” (2.2.53). In these lines William Shakespeare shows the readers that Lady Macbeth is not what it seems. Fearlessness and heartlessness in Act 2 turns into guilt and remorse in the fifth Act of the play. In a...
