Macbeth

            In the play "Macbeth", a symbol of blood is portrayed often .
             (and with different meanings), and developed until it is .
             the dominating theme of the play. The word "blood", or .
             different forms of it, occurs forty-two times and the word .
             fear is used forty-two times. The symbol of blood changes .
             throughout the play, as Macbeth's character changes. First .
             he is a brave honoured soldier, but as the play progresses, .
             he becomes a treacherous person who has become identified .
             with death and bloodshed and shows his guilt in different .
             forms. .
             The first reference of blood is one of honour, and occurs .
             when Duncan sees the injured sergeant and says "What bloody .
             man is that?". This is symbolic of the brave fighter who .
             been injured in a valiant battle for his country. In the .
             next passage, in which the sergeant says "Which smok'd with .
             bloody execution", he is referring to Macbeth's braveness .
             in which his sword is covered in the hot blood of the enemy. .
             After these few references to honour, the symbol of blood .
             now changes to show a theme of treachery and treason. Lady .
             Macbeth starts this off when she asks the spirits to "make .
             thick my blood,". What she is saying by this, is that she .
             wants to make herself insensitive and remorseless for the .
             deeds which she is about to commit. Lady Macbeth knows that .
             the evidence of blood is a treacherous symbol, and knows it .
             will deflect the guilt from her and Macbeth to the servants .
             when she says "smear the sleepy grooms with blood.", and .
             "If he do bleed, I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, .
             for it must seem their guilt." When Banquo states "and .
             question this most bloody piece of work," and Ross says .
             "is't known who did this more than bloody deed?", they are .
             both inquiring as to who performed the treacherous acts .
             upon Duncan. When Macbeth is speaking about Malcolm and .
             Donalbain, he refers to them as "bloody cousins" .