ous a go o’er (3. 4. 135-137).” Macbeth is so deep in blood with his actions that it is as difficult to repent, as it is to continue. There not only is a river of blood, but also an ocean of blood as Macbeth looks at his bloody hand and groans: “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this Blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the Multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one Red (2. 2. 59-62).”Macbeth wonders in agony if an entire ocean will wipe the blood from his hands, but he answers his own question replying no, that the blood on his hands will make the whole ocean turn red. The whole world of Macbeth bleeds as the reader sees when Macduff cries, “Bleed, Bleed, poor country (4.3.31)!” From beginning to end, Blood fills the air and delivers a powerful atmosphere that shapes the emotions and actions of the characters. Shakespeare also uses the image of blood to represent death. Ross refers to Duncan’s murder as a “Bloody deed (2.4.22).” This reference occurs after the murder, so the audience makes a connection between blood and death. Macbeth tells the ghost of Duncan to leave and haunt him no more because he is dead, his “Blood is cold (3.4.93).” This means he no longer has the warm blood that is characteristic of living creatures. As the audience can imagine, the picture of Duncan’s dead body has a profound effect on Macbeth’s thought process. Duncan’s blood is calling for Macbeth’s blood, or Duncan’s death is calling for Macbeth’s death. Another image of blood and death comes from Donalbain who says to his brother, “the near in blood, the near bloody (2.3.127).” They fear that death will capture their last breath because of their relations to Duncan. Throughout Macbeth, blood and death continue to appear synonymous together as they ...
