Example research essay topic: Feeling Of Guilt Lady Macbeth - 575 words

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A symbol is an object that gives a deeper insight into the underlying themes of a work or literature. In the play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the most apparent of these is blood. Blood imagery is used frequently and consistently throughout the play, in fact, the word blood is mentioned forty-two times! The meaning of this recurrent symbol changes with Macbeth. As Macbeth progresses from honorable to deceptive to guilty, the definition of blood changes as well. At first, blood is used to display courage and bravery as in Act I, Scene?

when Duncan says, What bloody man is this? , as an injured solider enters. He, like Macbeth, is a warrior whose blood is respectable because it was shed for his country. The soldier makes reference to Macbeth s valiant efforts by saying that his sword so d with bloody execution when he murdered an enemy. There is also a reference to Duncan s blood being golden because he is the most respected man, the king. As Macbeth begins to plot murder with Lady Macbeth, he becomes more and more evil and therefore the meaning of the blood loses its purity and it, too, becomes a sign of betrayal and deception. Banquo refers to Duncan s murder as most bloody piece of work and Ross asks is t known who did this more than bloody deed?

Both statements display the fact that blood has now grown to define an act of treason or betrayal. Finally, as Macbeth becomes both paranoid and somewhat guilty for his acts, the blood becomes a symbol of guilt and wrong-doing. The change in meaning is marked by Macbeth speech where he states that he is so far stepped in blood that it would be impossible for him to turn back now. This is the first inkling he gives the audience of his inner thoughts since the beginning of the play. Slowly, but surely the feeling of guilt begins to hang over Macbeth until it becomes almost too much to bear. He has stopped confiding in Lady Macbeth, and must therefore keep his reflections in the back of his mind, haunting him.

At this time, Macbeth sees a vision of Banquo, whom he has just had murdered. In his vision, Banquo is bloodstained and gory, taunting Macbeth by sitting in his chair. This guilt also encompasses Lady Macbeth who has begun sleepwalking and continually washing her hands, as if to cleanse the blood from them. She speaks as she walks, saying, 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 out power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him? Macbeth s downfall is marked with his final feeling of guilt as he states to Macduff, But get thee back, my soul is too car d with blood of thine already. As previously proven, the theme of blood is one that transforms as Macbeth does throughout the course of the play. The definition comes full circle once again at the very end, as Macbeth is slain.

The murder of Macbeth is viewed as honorable and thus blood is made to be honorable also. Blood imagery is perhaps the strongest, but most subtle conveyed of the transitions Macbeth makes in his fall from grace.

Research essay sample on Feeling Of Guilt Lady Macbeth