Imagery, the art of making images, the product of imagination (Merriam- Shakespeare uses many forms of imagery in his writing of Macbeth. Three mainforms of imagery in this play are blood, light and darkness, and clothing. Within each formof this imagery Shakespeare incorporates symbols that the reader must understand if theyare to interpret either the passage or the play as a whole.In Macbeth blood symbolizes many things. We have all known blood to representlife, death, and often injury. In the play, Shakespeare uses blood to represent treason,guilt, murder, and death. Shakespeare uses the word blood many times throughoutMacbeth. The best way to describe how the image of blood changes throughout the play isby following the character changes in Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth. The firstreference to blood is on pg.113 Act I scene ii, when Duncan states "What bloody man isthat?" The symbolism of blood in this quote is that of honor. This quote is symbolic of thefighter who has just been injured in battle. The symbol of blood begins to change to a formof treachery and treason as the play moves on. Such as seen on pg.124 Act I scene v whenlady Macbeth asks the spirits "Make thick my blood." In this quote she wants to makeherself insensitive towards the deeds that she is about to commit. Towards the end of theplay blood symbolizes guilt. This is best seen on pg. 176 Act V scene ii, when LadyMacbeth states "Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One: two: why, then 'tis time to do 't." Inthis quote Lady Macbeth is remembering the night of the murder. It is the guilt in her soulthat is making hr have these recurring nightmares. The last symbolism of blood is on pg.185 Act II scene viii when Macduff states "I have no words: my voice is in my sword,thou bloodier villian than terms can give thee out!" In this quote the imagery of bloodagain begins to deal with honor.The second form of imagery Shakespeare uses is light and darkness. In the playMacbeth...
