Macbeth
...when Duncan says, “What bloody man is that?” (1.2.1) The man is a bloody soldier coming back to report to Duncan. The bloody man is bloody, yet honored because the blood came from the battlefield, which was an honor in the time the play takes place. Blood accompanies honor once again in the first scene, and this time it is the honor of Macbeth. The bloody captain says, “Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel which smoked with bloody execution, like Valour’s minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave.” (1.2.17- 20). In this excerpt, the bloody captain is referring to the sword of Macbeth and how he covers it with the blood of his enemies. This image of blood shows us that Macbeth was honorable, for being a good general and serving his country well. Macbeth’s honor is illustrated by a comment made by the king himself. Duncan says, referring to Macbeth, “O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman.” This shows that Macbeth and Duncan are somehow related by blood. Macbeth is associated with blood early on in the play and is highly regarded by the king as well. Blood is a symbol of hono...