e night of Duncans death. They are showing the comparisons between the natural unruliness and the unusual disaster. In the play, the word blood is mentioned numerous times. Shakespeares use of this particular word is significant; he uses it to develop the character of Macbeth and the unfolding events of the drama. The powerful symbolic meaning of blood changes from the beginning to the end. Before Duncans murder, Macbeth imagines seeing a dagger floating in the air before him. He describes it, And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, Which was not so before. Theres no such thing: It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. This blood imagery refers to treason, ambition, and murder. Blood, once seen as a positive value, is now associated with evil. After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth begins to realize the severity of his crime as he tries to wash Duncans blood off his hands, Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No; this hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red. Macbeth laments that not even all the water in the ocean will wash the blood off his hands, he is beginning to realize the magnitude of his crime, and that he has done something truly evil. Shortly after Macbeth sees the ghost of the murdered Banquo at his feast, he goes into a state of shock and has to be escorted back to his chamber by Lady Macbeth. He tells Lady Macbeth before he goes to sleep, All causes shall give way: I am in blood Steppd in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go oer: Macbeth has now entered so far into hell and the world of evil, it is impossible for him to return to righteousness. He will be forced to kill more and more people in order to retain control of the throne. The sins he has committed have not only perverted his virtuous life, but have condemned him to an eternity in hell. There is no chance of redemption; he has permanently allied him...
