reacherous actsupon Duncan. When Macbeth is speaking about Malcolm andDonalbain, he refers to them as "bloody cousins" A final way, and perhaps the most vivid use of the symbolblood, is of the theme of guilt. First Macbeth hints at hisguilt when he says "Will all great Neptune"s ocean wash thisblood clean from my hand?", meaning that he wondered if he wouldever be able to forget the dastardly deed that he had committed.Then the ghost of Banquo, all gory, and bloody comes to hauntMacbeth at the banquet. The sight of apparitions represents hisguilt for the murder of Banquo which he planned. Macbeth shows abit of his guilt when he says "It is the bloody business whichinforms thus," he could not get the courage to say murder afterhe had killed Duncan, so he says this instead. Lady Macbeth shows the most vivid example of guilt using thesymbol of blood in the scene in which she walks in her sleep.She says "Out damned spot! Out I say! One: two: why then "tistime to do"t: hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier, andafeard? What need we fear who knows it when none can call outpower to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to havehad so much blood in him?". This speech represents the fact thatshe cannot wipe the blood stains of Duncan off of her hands. Itis ironic, that she says this, because right after the murder,when Macbeth was feeling guilty, she said "A little water clearsus of this deed." When the doctor of the castle finds out aboutthis sleepwalking, he tells Macbeth "As she is troubled withthick-coming fantasies,". What this means, is that Lady Macbethis having fantasies or dreams that deal with blood. Macbeth knowsin his mind that she is having troubles with her guilt, but doesnot say anything about it. Just before the ending of the play, Macbeth has Macduff athis mercy, and lets him go, because of his guilt. He shows thathe is guilty, when he says "But get thee back, my soul is toomuch charg...
