Symbolism

In this first example from Lady Macbeth, blood symbolizes power. She calls upon dark spirits to "make thick my blood" (I. v. Lady Macbeth), asking the spirits to thicken her blood, and her resolve to kill King Duncan (or have Macbeth kill King Duncan.) This happens early on in the play so blood has yet to obtain it's negative connotation.

Next, we find this quote from Macbeth's monologue, which he delivers right before he is to kill King Duncan. He has a vision of a floating dagger making it's way to King Duncan's chamber, where Macbeth kills him in his sleep. This "bloody business" Macbeth alludes to is obviously the killing of the king. He also describes the dagger, saying, "on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood" (II. i. Macbeth). Therefore, in this quote blood symbolizes the beginning of guilt for Macbeth, as well as the actual murder of King Duncan.

In this third quote, Macbeth has just finished killing the king, and he is talking to Lady Macbeth outside of King Duncan's chamber. He says, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hands?" (II. ii. Macbeth), because he is (1) literally covered in King Duncan's blood, and (2) feeling immense guilt for what he has just done. In fact he goes on to say that his guilt is so powerful that it would turn the sea red if he were to try and wash his hands in it, "No, this my hand will rather / The multitudinous seas incarnadine, / Making the green one red" (II. ii. Macbeth).

This fourth example ties in to the one above as it is Lady Macbeth's response to Macbeth's sappy monologue. Macbeth has accidentally taken the dagger with him into the hall, and when Lady Macbeth asks him to return it to the sleeping guards (to frame them), he refuses. Lady Macbeth (after some not so kind words), takes the dagger herself. When she returns her hands are covered in blood, just like her husbands. Although this quote does not actually use the word "blood" it is heavily alluded to. Lady Macbeth says, "My hands are of your colour; but I shame / To wear a heart so white" (II. ii. Lady Macbeth), saying that although her hands are covered in blood, same as Macbeth, she does not feel the shame and guilt he feels. Here blood symbolizes Macbeth's guilt and Lady Macbeth's "thickened blood" or her strength.

Next, we have a monologue from Macbeth that is given while he is seeing the ghost of Banquo. In this scene Macbeth is throwing a dinner party in celebration of his new acquired title. However, right before this, Macbeth put a hit out on his friend Banquo (remember the witches prophecy?). Therefore, due to his guilt, Macbeth is confronted by Banquo's ghost. He says, "Avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee! / Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;" (III. iv. Macbeth), giving blood the meaning of death and violence. There was no logical reason for Macbeth to kill his friend, but he did so out of fear and greed.

Following is another quote from Macbeth, which conveys to the reader how evil this character has become. He says, "It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood" (III. iv. Macbeth), meaning that violence will create more violence. In this quote, blood symbolizes the different murders that have occurred (so far) in the play. The first blood shed was that of King Duncan, and, in order to keep his title, he kills Banquo, once a loyal friend.

Up next we have quite an interesting quote delivered by a bloody child! After hearing that Fleance, Banquo's son, has escaped from Macbeth's hitmen, Macbeth decides to give the witches another visit to sort some things out (basicaly he wants more information so he can make the situation much much worse.) During his visit, the witches decide to show Macbeth four visions, or apparitions. The Second Apparition is that of a bloody child and he warns Macbeth, "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn / The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth" (IV. i. Second Apparition). In this example, blood represents life because the child is bloody after just having been born. In his words however, being "bloody" means to be courageous and violent. He tells Macbeth not to worry and to continue fighting for what is his.

Last, but certainly not least, we have Lady Macbeth at her most vulnerable stages. Near the end of the play we begin to see a shift in Lady Macbeth to that of a weaker character. As time progresses Macbeth becomes stronger and more ambitious, while Lady Macbeth is consumed with guilt. While sleep walking, she gives her famous monologue, ""Out, damned spot! out, I say! One: two: why, / then, 'tis time to do 't. Hell is murky! Fie, my/ lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we / fear who knows it, when none can call our power to / account? yet who would have thought the old man / to have had so much blood in him" (V. i. Lady Macbeth). The "damned spot" is referring to the blood stains she had to clean after Macbeth killed Duncan (remember out in the hallway?). It also symbolizes Lady Macbeth's guilt, because no matter how much she cleans, that spot will never be gone.