Blood Imagery in Macbeth
In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, there are many references to blood; the word appears forty-two times throughout the entire play (References to blood motif in Macbeth). The symbolism of blood changes throughout the play in unison with the change that’s seen in Macbeth’s character. Just as Macbeth’s character begins as one of bravery, blood begins as a symbol of honor and courageousness. The first reference of blood occurs when King Duncan sees one of his injured captains and says, "What bloody man is that? " (Shakespeare, William. Macbeth 1. 2. 1). Blood is represented here as a symbol of the brave soldier who has not only been injured but, also been drenched his enemies’ blood. The wounded captain replies to the king and says, "Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel,/ Which smoked with bloody execution,/ Like valour's minion carved out his passage," (1.