Macbeth Motif Essay

Macbeth Motif Quotes
In Macbeth the motif dream is used to convey a mood of violence and the motif blood is used to
convey a mood of shock.
In Macbeth, the motif dream is used to convey the mood of violence. This quote took place when
Macbeth was talking to himself and contemplating what he would soon end up doing, which was to
kill the king. "Is this a dagger which I see before me,/ The handle toward my hand? Come, let me
clutch thee./ I have thee not, and yet I see thee still" (2.1.44–47). This quote shows that the motif
dream is used to show a mood of violence because Macbeth was in the mindset of violence and was
contemplating killing Duncan. This quote also shows you how he was manipulated into thinking
/ dreaming he had to kill Duncan by showing him a...show more content...
In this quote Macbeth is thinking about killing the king just minutes before this quote happens.
"Who can be wise, amazed, temp'rate, and furious,/ Loyal, and neutral, in a moment? No man./ Th'
expedition of my violent love/ Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan,/ His silver skin laced
with his golden blood,/ And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature/ For ruin's wasteful
entrance; there the murderers,/ Steeped in the colors of their trade, their daggers/ Unmannerly
breeched with gore. Who could refrain/ That had a heart to love, and in that heart/ Courage to make
's love known?" (2.3.127–137). This quote shows that the motif blood is used to show a mood of
shock because Macbeth didn't know what to feel and what to do when he realized what he is
seeing. He also realizes soon after killing Duncan that he made a bad decision and immediately
regrets it. This quote also shows how Macbeth did not know what to do from all the information he
was taking in about the death of his king. The second quote shows Macbeth talking to his wife
about how shocked he is from all that had happened during that day. "Methought I heard a voice cry
"Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep"–the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled
sleave of care, The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's
second course, Chief nourisher in life's feast.
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Motif Of Sleep In Macbeth
In the play Macbeth sleep and dreams were the motif. Sleep represents the up roar everyone woke
up, also dreams represent the daydreams happening after death of King Duncan. The motif, sleep,
creates a mood of confusion. When Macbeth was wailing in the middle of the night that the king is
dead which woke the other men up. "O horror, horror, horror!/ tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor
name thee/ confusion now hath made his masterpiece most sacrilegious murder hath broken ope
(2.3.73–77)." Lennox and Macduff have seen king Duncan in his chambers dead and they are
mortified, the men are perplexed on how the king was killed by guards around his chambers. When
the other men tumble out of bed and see the king, the men are disgusted by their sight. "Shake off
this downy sleep, death's counterfeit,/ and look on...show more content...
When Banquo was dreaming he saw three weird sisters and he thought they were trying to
communicate with Macbeth which made him suspicious. "All's well./ I dreamt last night of the three
weird sisters./ to you they have showed some truth (2.1.24–26)." The sleeping Banquo was dreaming
and came upon an unusual dream consisted of the Three Weird Sisters trying to unravel the truth
of the king's murder. Later, he woke up and went to tell Macbeth about his unusual dream,
Macbeth had no idea about the dreams but was very suspicious. Lastly Macbeth is daydreaming
of a dagger on a table and he says it looks very realistic which has caused watchful eyes looking in
his direction. "Is this a dagger which I see before me./ The handle toward my hand? Come, let me
clutch thee./ I have thee not, and yet I see thee still (2.1.44–46)." Thinking the dagger is real,
Macbeth is talking to it but really he is imagining it . The others were very skeptical of Macbeth's
behavior. When Macbeth came back from his zone everyone thought he was going insane or he was
acting so he wouldn't get authenticated for the king's

Blood Motif In Macbeth Essay
In Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, the theme of ambition is developed through the motif of blood.
Blood is closely linked to violence, which tends to be the result of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's
unchecked ambitions. Blood and metaphorical blood come to symbolize the guilty consciences of
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. The murders Macbeth executes and plans are over in an instant, but
one thing always remains, blood, and eventually leads to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's downfall.
In the opening act, Macbeth is portrayed as a noble and heroic solider. He is driven by his
ambition to destroy the Norwegians, and the scottish traitors Macdonwald, and Thane of Cawdor,
in order to please King Duncan. A captain who is described as being covered in so much blood to
the point where he is almost unrecognizable, tells King Duncan news about the war. The captain
states that Macbeth was especially brave in killing Macdonwald, " he unseam'd him from / the nave
to the chaps, / and fix'd his head upon our battlements" (1.2.24–26). In act one scene two,
Shakespeare introduces the idea that Macbeth is capable of bloody destruction. When at war with
Norway, Macbeth is covered in blood, some...show more content...
After the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth looks at his hands and sees how they are covered in
his king's blood, to which he responds, "This is a sorry sight" (2.2.28). Macbeth worries that all
the water in the world can not wash the blood off his hands. The blood can be seen as Macbeth's
ambitions to become king as the witches prophecies claimed, in which he can not drive away. After
Lady Macbeth plants the bloody daggers on the chamberlains she states, " A little water clears us of
this deed" (2.2.65). Lady Macbeth is naive, and believes in killing Duncan that they have satisfied
their ambitions, and she can wash away her guilt. She is unaware that her husband's hunger for a
high status will only increase along with the

Motifs And Motifs In Macbeth
In literature, one might notice certain images, objects, or ideas recurring throughout the piece.
These are called motifs, and unsurprisingly, many motifs are present in the works of William
Shakespeare. There are many themes that Shakespeare conveys through motif in his play Macbeth.
One of these is that breaking the Great Chain of Being results in misery and disorder, but the
natural order tends to eventually recover. Another is that violence is morally ambiguous and can be
good or evil depending only on who the violence affects. Finally, Shakespeare shows that what one
perceives as reality is not necessarily reality, especially under the effects of guilt and or paranoia.
From reading Macbeth, one can easily pick up on these messages:...show more content...
However, towards the end of the play, the natural order begins to return to normal. Hearing that
Birnam wood was coming to Dunsinane Macbeth remarks I pull in resolution and begin
To doubt th' equivocation of the fiend
That lies like truth. "Fear not, till Birnam wood
Do come to Dunsinane"; and now a wood
Comes toward Dunsinane.–Arm, arm, and out!–
If this which he avouches does appear,
There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here.
I 'gin to be aweary of the sun,
And wish th' estate o' th' world were now undone.–
Ring the alarum–bell!–Blow, wind! Come, wrack!
At least we'll die with harness on our back (V.v.47
–58).
This quote draws parallels between Macbeth and a horse, first with the metaphor of him pulling in
resolution. Through this metaphor, Macbeth suggests a fear that allowing the "horse" of his
confidence to be free was a mistake. He mentions later that "at least [he'll] die with harness on [his]
back" (V.v.58), which shows that Macbeth is returning to the battlefield
– where the natural order
says he should be. Rather than rule, Macbeth's nature is to obey commands, as both a soldier and a
horse does. Shakespeare emphasizes the unnatural nature of Macbeth's rule once again over here, as
Birnam Wood moving to Dunsinane is an event that does not occur naturally. Shakespeare
demonstrates through his use of these two nature motifs to enhance the idea that a disturbance to the
natural order causes great

Macbeth Motifs
In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, motifs are used to help the progression of story's plot,
and five significant motifs are present throughout the plot. The motifs provide a more in–depth
meaning and understanding of the plot. Nature and its disruption are one of the central motifs
utilized by Shakespeare in this play. The disruption of nature occurs in the work when there is an
immoral act or act against the appointment of God. Nature disrupted in Macbeth conveys to the
reader severity of things, how every action has a sequence, and foreshadow events to come in the
plot.
In the iconic play Macbeth, the cause of nature's disorder is the killing of King Duncan. The odd
happenings were illustrated in this quotation from Ross to the Old Man, "By th' clock 'tis day, and
yet dark night strangles the traveling light" (Macbeth II. iv. 8–9). In this quotation, Ross and Old
Man are discussing that it is daytime, but the sky still appears to be dark as night. The sky's unusual
color was a clear disturbance of nature. The use of this motif demonstrated what odd things had been
transpiring in Scotland after the death of Duncan. Macbeth causes turmoil in nature by killing
Duncan. The English people believe that God appoints their kings. God did not elect Macbeth to be
king, but instead, Macbeth murdered Duncan, who was chosen by God and usurped his title. Nature
and God are synonymous, so when something goes against God, nature is affected by becoming
disorderly. The

Examples Of Motif In Macbeth
Act 2 Motif Essay
By Kush
The motif for this act is blood because there is the killing of Duncan. The bloody guilt of Duncan is
shown throughout the thesis.The quote shows when Macbeth is thinking of Duncan's funeral after
he killed him, "Outran the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan"Shakespeare(2.3.127). Macbeth shed a
lot of blood through the thesis as he kills the king, Duncan, and the guards.Lady Macbeth tries to
get rid of the murder weapons so she is acting like death is just an act for her and she doesn't
really care who dies,"Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead"Shakespeare(2.2.68).Lady
Macbeth is experienced on how to kill Duncan and cover up the murder so she has done something
that has killed people or she is a psychopath.

Macbeth Motifs
When it comes down to it, humans are mammals, and there are some animalistic traits that every
mammal shares. The story of Macbeth by Shakespeare includes a theme that is the epitome of a trait
that all mammals share, weak versus strong. Through the use of metaphors including birds, the
symbolism of Macbeth as an owl throughout the story, and the juxtaposition between birds, weak
versus strong is represented by the motif of birds in Macbeth. Birds are incorporated into other
literary elements that Shakespeare utilizes, showing the true depth of his writing. Metaphors allow
the reader to paint a picture of written words referencing images that they are familiar with. Like any
other animal, there is a hierarchy of strength and therefore...show more content...
When Lady Macduff tells her son that "thou'dst never fear the net nor lime, the pitfall nor the gin,"
he responds with a question of why he should because "poor birds they are not set for", meaning
that because he would be such a weak bird, hunters would have no want for him (4.2.36–37). Just
after making this point, the defenseless son of Macduff is murdered by the king Macbeth, making
the reader question what kind of tyrant Macbeth has come to be. The use of birds in Macbeth by
Shakespeare is used to develop the theme of weak versus strong when they are used in metaphors,
when Macbeth is represented by a bird throughout the story, and by the juxtaposition of the weak and
strong birds. The acts committed by the characters aroused emotions in the audience because they
were not so unrealistic that the audience could not relate to them, they represented the mammal in
humans, the animal inside of all of us that we attempt to constrain. Birds are essential to create this
unsettling feeling because their rustic, animal–like nature is no unlike the animalistic traits we try to
hide, which allows the reader or audience to relate with the

Motif And Motifs In Macbeth
Sight of Darkness: Analyzing Murder Motifs in Macbeth
Throughout Shakespeare's Macbeth, the motif 'sight' represents a terrible event or murder;
coinciding with the event, while also highlighting Macbeth's lack of accountability for the crimes.
Through the use of the motif sight, it is conveyed that Macbeth decides he must turn a blind eye to
the murder of Duncan. While trying to secure the throne he is prophesied to have, Macbeth
frequently questions whether he should interfere with fate's process. After speaking with Duncan,
Macbeth steps aside and states, "The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be /which the eye fears, when
it is done, to see" (1.4.59–60). Macbeth's thoughts to kill Duncan are so evil when he does it that
Macbeth doesn't want to look. In addition, the eye is a directly related to the brain, therefore, by
'winking,' Macbeth tries to avoid acknowledging the evil he may commit. To conclude, Macbeth
cannot stomach the thought of killing Duncan so he must turn a blind eye to it; he will try to
literally not see it, and not acknowledge it cognitively. Another example of Macbeth turning a blind
eye is after the killing of Duncan. Macbeth discusses with Lady Macbeth the remorse and guilt he
feels. He states, "I am afraid to think what I have done. / Look ''at again I dare not" (2.2.66–67).
Even after killing Duncan in attempt to claim the throne, Macbeth refuses to look at Duncan and
his dead body. This again highlights Macbeth's refusal to condone his deeds as he cannot bare to
look at what he has done. The final sight motif used by Macbeth precedes the murder of Banquo.
Even after Duncan is dead, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth cannot stand idle and wait for the crown to
be delivered to them; they decree to remove any threats posed to their succession. For this reason,
they hire three murderers to kill Banquo. While talking to Lady Macbeth about their plans, Macbeth
responds, "Come, seeling night, / scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day / and with thy bloody and
invisible hand" (3.2.52–54). Similarly to the first passage, Macbeth is saying the actions of killing
Banquo are so violent that it cannot be visible by the light of day. Related to both passages, Macbeth
does not want anyone to

Symbols And Motifs In Macbeth
In the drama Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare uses symbols and motifs to
demonstrate how Macbeth's ambition leads him to corruption. For example, immediately after Lady
Macbeth has set up the murder of King Duncan and is relishing her triumph, she declares, "Hark!
Peace! / It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman, / Which gives the stern'st good–night"
(II.ii.2–4). This is an example of the symbol of animal imagery as Lady Macbeth describes the shriek
of the owl, which represents of the motif of death for the reason that the owl's hoot superstitiously
foretells fatality. Additionally, this ties into the idea that ambition leads to corruption as in this
scenario, the hoot of the owl signifies Duncan's murder, committed by Macbeth

Motifs In Macbeth
In Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth undergoes many emotional and psychological
changes. Shakespeare uses motifs and numbers to show Lady Macbeth is stoic and unrepentant in
the beginning, but becomes desperate for death by the end because she is frantic and overcome with
guilt.
When Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discuss the murder of King Duncan, Shakespeare uses a variety of
motifs, such as the repetition of blood and hands, to show that Lady Macbeth lacked remorse for
the murder. This scene portrays a contrast between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's feelings. While
Macbeth is worrying that his hands will never be clean from the blood, Lady Macbeth is unphased
and simply tells him to "wash [the] filthy witness from [his] hand" (II.ii.59). The...show more
content...
When Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking, she shows frantic behavior and is surprised that King
Duncan "had so much blood in him" (V.i.3). Unlike her attitude in the beginning, Lady Macbeth no
longer believes she can "wash away" her guilt. The amount of "blood", which symbolizes her guilt,
overwhelms Lady Macbeth, causing her personality to be much more sanguine. She no longer
believes guilt can be washed away, instead she says that "all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten
this little hand" (V.i.23–24). No matter how many perfumes Lady Macbeth used, her hands would
still smell of blood. The blood lingering on her hands signifies that Lady Macbeth's guilt has
stayed with her, making her feel remorseful. This overwhelming guilt eventually leads her to
commit suicide. In the beginning of her speech, Lady Macbeth says "One;two; 'tis time to do't"
(V.i.1). The number three is a popular motif in Macbeth, as there are three prophets, three
witches, and three major deaths. The first two deaths, King Duncan and Banquo, were caused by
Lady Macbeth, which is what causes her guilt. Because of the remorse she feels, Lady Macbeth
thinks it is "time to do't", meaning it is time to kill herself. Lady Macbeth's suicide then becomes
the third major death in the play. The use of three is used multiple times later in the speech, such
as when Lady Macbeth says "to bed, to bed, there's knocking at the gate"(V.i.31). She only says
"to bed" twice, which represents the first two deaths. "There's knocking at the gate" is a reference
to the gates of hell, meaning that it is time for Lady Macbeth to die as well. The final line "give
me your hand...to bed, to bed, to bed", shows that Lady Macbeth is killing herself to get rid of her
guilt (V.i.32). She is "giving" death her hand, meaning she is

Motif Of Guilt In Macbeth
The definition of the word regret is "a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over
something that has happened or been done". In the play Macbeth, the playwright William
Shakespeare continuously repeats the motif of guilt and regret for the purpose of further developing
two of the main characters: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. From almost the beginning of the story
the audience is introduced to the motif of guilt when Macbeth is manipulated by his wife to kill
the King. Shakespeare introduces this motif in order to further develop the character Macbeth.
Before Macbeth kills him he asks himself "Is this a dagger which I see before me" (II,i,44). This
shows that Macbeth knew that killing Duncan was wrong but he killed him anyway due to his
wife's manipulation. Macbeth hears voices saying that he won't ever sleep again due to the guilt
that he feels "Methought I heard a voice cry "Sleep no more!/ Macbeth does murder sleep"(II.ii.
47–48). After Macbeth kills Duncan he is so regretful that he doesn't think that there is enough
water in the ocean to get the blood off of his hands "will all great Neptune's oceans wash this blood
/Clean from my hand" (II,ii,78–79). Macbeth is so full of regret from killing Duncan that he can not
even think about what he has done. Throughout the play Macbeth's extreme guilt begins to fade as
he gains more power and begins to become a tyrant. After Duncan is killed at Lady Macbeth's hand
she seems to not feel any regret. After Duncan is killed and Macbeth has a guilty conscience she
tells him not to think about what he did because it will drive him crazy, "These deeds must not be
thought/After these ways;so, it will make us mad"(II.ii.45–46). Lady Macbeth says the opposite of
what Macbeth says about there not being enough water to get rid of his guilt, "A little water
clears us of this deed"(II.ii.86). After after playing a part in the death of King Duncan Lady
Macbeth seems to feel no regret "My hands are of your color, but I shame/ To wear a heart so
white"(II.ii.82–83). She is saying that she did the same amount of work in murdering Duncan but
she feels no regret. Lady Macbeth gradually feels more regret as time goes on after the murder. As
the play goes on Macbeth and

Macbeth Motifs
This play is one of the most deadly tragedies next to Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". In the play
Macbeth, one of the major themes that can be derived from the play is the storyline this was play
in Shakespeare time. At his time women were not allowed to be in the play so it was hard and this
was due to some laws the kingdom had. The main 3 supported motifs are Gender, Blood (faith and
freewill), and Guilt. A short summary of this play is that 3 witches tellMacbeth and his friend
Banquo that he and Banquo sons will be king someday. Macbeth tells his wife and his wife has a
plan to kill King Duncan. After this Duncan's sons leave the kingdom making Macbeth king. After
realizing that Banquo's son will become king one day he send hitmen...show more content...
But the main theme here is faith or freewill. In the story the witches tell Macbeth about the
prophecy about him and Banquo's son being kings this is freewill because Macbeth decides to tell
his wife that he will be king and one thing leads to another domino effect. If Macbeth and Banquo
never had heard the prophecy Banquo would still be alive and who knows maybe faith will play a
big role and Macbeth will be king. Lady Macbeth forces her husband to kill King Duncan so this
is an act of faith because Macbeth knows he is going to be king. Freewill would be he had the idea
first and told his wife to come along through the plan of murdering King Duncan. This is also the
motif for the play blood and meaning death. Act 2 Scene 2, says "Bring forth men–children only: for
thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males". –Lady

The Motif Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare
Every one of Shakespeare 's plays are heavily imbedded with motifs. A motif is any element,
subject, idea or concept that is constantly present through the entire body of literature. (motif) I
chose to examine the play Macbeth. It is a very intense play full of violence, betrayal, and even the
supernatural. It is well known to be saturated with themes and motifs that are repeated throughout
the play. These motifs are important because they often foreshadow events on the play. They also
create a atmosphere that helps shape the events of the play. I am going to focus on two motifs that
seem to play a heavy role in the storyline of Macbeth. The two I have chose to focus on are the
motifs of blood and nature. Since Macbeth is know for its violence blood is a very important part
of the play. Nature also is representative of things to come and upsetting the natural balance of
things. These are only a fraction of motifs that are present in this tragic play.
Blood coats the play Macbeth from the beginning to end. It plays an important part in this play
and is mentioned over 40 times. (english) Blood itself is a source of life and shocking to see. The
constant presence of blood in Macbeth repeatedly reminds the audience about how serious the
consequences of the characters actions are. The blood remains on the hands of faces of the
murderers. They are unable to remove the feel , or stain of the blood therefore showing their
immense guilt. Just before he kills King Duncan,

Motif Of Blood And Darkness In Macbeth
In The Tragedy of Macbeth William Shakespeare uses the motifs of blood and darkness to dramatize
the Macbeths' loss of humanity as they choose dominance and their own ambitions over light and a
prosperous life.
Throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth William Shakespeare utilizes the motif of blood, representing
immoral and sinful actions and tragedizing the loss of humanity within the Macbeth family. Early in
the play, after reading the letter sent by her beloved husband, Lady Macbeth says wickedly, "make
thick my blood." After hearing her husband heard prophecies from three witches, telling him he will
become King of Scotland, Lady Macbeth believes that her husband does not have enough "illness" to
become king. Lady Macbeth wishes the spirits upon...show more content...
Later in the play, after King Duncan gratefully thanked Macbeth for his duty in battle, Duncan
then names his son Prince of Cumberland. With foul intentions, Macbeth says, "Stars, hide your
fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires." He asks the stars to hid their darkness so that
no one could see that he will have to kill King Duncan to make the witches' prophecies come true.
Right before the murderers go to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, Macbeth says, "Come, seeling
night." All evil actions, take place in the darkness and there is no light to stop the darkness.
Macbeth's ambition has taken him over and there is no turning back. Later in the play, after King
Duncan gratefully thanked Macbeth for his duty in battle, Duncan then names his son Prince of
Cumberland. With foul intentions, Macbeth says, "Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my
black and deep desires." He asks the stars to hid their darkness so that no one could see that he will
have to kill King Duncan to make the witches' prophecies come

Blood Motif in Macbeth Essay
Blood
The longest running tradition in medicine, bloodletting, was a widely accepted practice with a
three–thousand year–old history from the ancient Egyptians to the late 19th century. At that time,
physicians thought that disease was a curse caused by the supernatural. It was a common idea that
blood carried the vital force of the body and was the seat of the soul. Anything from body
weaknesses to insanity were attributed to a defect in this vital fluid. Bloodletting was a method for
balancing other fluids in the body and cleansing it of impurities. Shakespeare takes the same
knowledge of blood and applies it to "Macbeth" in which the connotations not only foretell one's
glory but also one's guilt....show more content...
Macbeth honors Duncan and says, "His silver skin laced with his golden blood" (II.iii.131). By
comparing Duncan's blood to gold, it glorifies him and his position of king that was unjustly
robbed of him. It relates back to the idea of blood being the source of life and the make–up of a
person. Any items with gold are things of high value and are prized possessions. By saying that
Duncan had golden blood, it symbolized great power.
Despite the use of blood as a good connotation, Shakespeare uses blood to describe other
connotations. In many instances, blood is what haunts Macbeth before and after the murder. "Will
all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood/ Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather / The
multitudinous seas incarnadine, / Making the green one red" (II.ii.78–81). No matter if it is a little
water or a whole ocean of water, Macbeth feels that no amount of water will clean the blood off
his hands. Blood used in this context is sinful and evil. With guilt, he knows that what he has done
will never be undone like the blood on his hands. When hallucinating the dagger, Macbeth sees that
the blade has "gouts of blood, / Which was not so before. There's no such thing. / It is the bloody
business which informs / Thus to mine eyes" (II.ii.58–61). The imagery of blood on a sharp knife
brings evil connotations and foreshadows the violence and goriness that is anticipated. Macbeth
refers to the

Motifs In Macbeth
The many motifs that shakespeare in his plays affects the performance which help with the themes.
the play(The Tragedy of Macbeth,William Shakespeare,Tragedy)is about how Macbeth and his
friend Banquo hear prophecies from three witch that will change their lives.Shakespeare utilizes the
motif of blood to help develop one of Macbeth's central themes:Greed and ambition can overpower
morality I chose blood to discuss and connect to the them because some of the major events has
blood in them.For example ,in scene 1 of act 2 a bloody soldier tells King Duncan about Macbeth's
courageous battle against Macdonwald.In other words , the bloody soldier is a messenger from
Macbeth's courageous battle against Macdonwald and says that Macbeth won.From this evidence
,reader can infer that the bloody...show more content...
make thick my blood, Stop up the access and passage to remorse"
In other words, Lady Macbeth wants to get rid of anything that would make her a woman to be
able to act more like a man to kill the king.From the evidence, the reader can infer that Lady wants
to stop being a woman and to be more like a man to be able to kill the king. After hearing about
Macbeth's prophecies she becomes more greedy for Macbeth to be king. the last example why I
chose blood because of the hired murderers that had blood over his face.for example, scene 3 of
act 4 When the first murderer of Banquo comes to the banquet, Macbeth says, "There's blood on
thy face".In other words, the Murderer came back to Macbeth after killing Banquo.From the
evidence, the reader can infer that Macbeth hires the murderers to kill his friend so that he can still
be king Macbeth was so greedy and ambition that he would kill anyone who he didn't

Theme Of Motifs In Macbeth
A motif is a repeating symbol that takes on a figurative meaning. A motif can be an object, a
color, the weather, or even an idea or a concept. Motifs are usually used to establish a certain
mood or a theme, and they have a symbolic meaning. For example, in a fairy tale, some motifs
would be: the handsome prince, the wicked witch, talking animals, and magic fairies. Another
example would be the song "Beasts of England" in Animal Farm by George Orwell, and it is a
motif that mainly serves as propaganda to the animals. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, motifs
are seen all throughout the book, like the motif of blood and how it represents guilt. The motifs of
blood, sleep, and birds affect the character development and relationship of Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth.
The motif of blood changes the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth because it shows
Macbeth's cowardice and Lady Macbeth's courageousness. Macbeth is a coward during the
murder of King Duncan because he is obsessed and petrified with the blood on his hands.
Macbeth looks at his bloody hands, "This is a sorry sight" (Shakespeare 2.2.28). Macbeth is so
shocked about the murder, he just stands in place and fixates on the blood on his hands. Macbeth
is extremely ashamed of what he has done, and the blood on his hands symbolizes his guilt and
remorse for the murder. The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is different now,
because now Macbeth is portrayed as guilty and sorrowful instead of brave, to his

Motifs In Macbeth
The motif is sleep/dreams which relates to the characterization and mood that the audience feels as
scary, mysterious, and that the mood is overwhelming. The motif sleep/dreams relates to the
characterization and mood that is overwhelming to the audience. When Lady Macbeth speaks to
Macbeth and says "I laid their daggers ready: he could not miss em.... My fathers as he slept, I had
done it." (Macbeth 2.1 13–21). The quote relates to the thesis being overwhelming because
Macbeth is speaking to Lady Macbeth about the murder of the king which gives a sense of them
being overwhelmed. Also, when Macduff is speaking to Lady Macbeth he says, "Shake off this
downy sleep death's counterfeit, And look on death itself. Up, up, and see, The great doom's

Macbeth Motif Critical Analysis : Macbeth
Michael Efstration
Mrs. Beauchamp
H English 12
6 January 2015
Macbeth Motif Critical Analysis: Sleeplessness
Macbeth is a play about a man and his desires that get the best of him. The calamity is fashioned
through the inspiration of several characters including his wife, Lady Macbeth and the exciting force
the witches create that begin the underlying motif of sleeplessness. Macbeth is a good person at
heart, but through various temptations becomes obsessed and gets destroyed by the very thing he
thought would bring him happiness: his pursuit to become king. Shakespeare utilizes the motif of
sleeplessness in the play as a metaphor for being restless to achieve his final goal. His criminal acts
go against Christianity, and not only affect himself, but other characters including his wife Lady
Macbeth.
At the start, the witches created the exciting force that caused all the mischief. They could be seen
as demons or the devil himself through the information that was relayed to Banquo and Macbeth.
The witches could also be God presenting a challenge to the both of them to see who comes out
victorious. Either way, the exciting force the witches create would either bring realization of the
future or deep disappointment. Christianity does not present itself clearly through the play, but many
parts could be deciphered through its teachings including sleeplessness. Ribner states that there is a
reason why Macbeth cannot sleep. He says that "sleep is an aspect of divine mercy".

Motifs In Macbeth
Macbeth Motifs
Motifs contain symbolic significance in stories. By motifs repeating themselves, they guide by
making narrative or literary aspects such as the theme and mood in stories. It's also created through
the use of imagery, structural components, vocabulary, and other narrative elements. In
Shakespeare's play Macbeth, uses blood, dead babies and infants, and clothing. These motifs are
repeated throughout the play.
The most frequent imagery is in fact Blood. Shakespeare uses this as a method to portray guilt and
murder with betrayal, and evilness and treachery. Blood can be interpreted as good or evil.
In the beginning of Macbeth, blood portrays as honour, victory, bravery, and fearless. Macbeth's
blood sword after the first war against...show more content...
Throughout Macbeth, this imagery is significant to the characters' roles.
Prior to this motif now, "Your highness' part [i]s to receive our duties; and our duties [a]re to your
throne and state, children and servants" (1, 4, 22–7), after the successful first battle in the play, this
quote is stated by Duncan which is a thank you to Macbeth, because a king takes well care of his
people just like a father takes well care of his own children. The people/society are supposed to act
like obedient children or infants.
Before Macbeth decides to kill Duncan, he ponders around the castle what will happen after he kills
him. "And pity, like a naked new–born babe, [s]triding the blast or heaven's cherubin hors'd [u]pon
the sightless couriers of the air, [s]hall blow the horrid deed in every eye, [t]hat tears shall drown
the wind" (1, 7, 21–5). He describes Duncan as a baby because he associates and shares babies with
innocence, also this shows a conscience since he describes Duncan's death would be like a hard
wind that would bring a tear to the eyes. When Lady Macbeth hears this she automatically tells
Macbeth that he's a coward and replies with, "I have given suck and know [h]ow tender 'tis to love
the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face... [a]nd dash'd the brains out" (4, 7,
54–9), this shows that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth once had a child together and now are using this
real life example as Blood

Macbeth Motif Essay

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Macbeth Motif Essay