Then afterwards as Macduff and Ross are discussing the death of Duncan, Ross refers to the murder as a bloody deed, "Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?" (II, 4, 22) By referring to it as a "bloody deed" it aids in portraying the murder as an act of violence. If he had just called it a murder it wouldn't have truly shown the vivid and violent nature of Duncan's death. .
The death of Duncan is followed by another bloody act of violence, the murder of Banquo. The three murderers, "were desperate assassins, incensed by the blows and buffets of the world, weary with disasters, tugged with fortune, willing to wreak their hatred on all mankind, and persuaded that Banquo has been their enemy, set upon and slay him, without remorse and without word" (Maginn, 193). Banquo is murdered gruesomely, he is beaten on the head and his throat is cut. Afterwards when Banquo's ghost appears to Macbeth he describes Banquo's hair as "gory locks," because his hair is covered with blood from his actual murder. (III, 4, 51) .
The imagery of blood also depicts Macbeth as a power hungry tyrant. In his efforts to gain power and fame he sheds the blood of numerous good men. His thirst is evident from the very first few scenes from the play. On the battlefield he is fighting for fame and glory, to become more popular and gain more power. When he is meeting with the witches after hearing that he will be Thane of Cawdor he becomes curious and nearly begs the witches to tell him more. He sends his wife a letter telling her just how excited .
Patel 3.
he is about the news. He tells her, "that thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing by .
being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee" (I, 5,11-13).
Then his thirst for power leads him to actually murder the king who was not only good to him but good to the people as well. He even says it to himself the only reason he has to murder Duncan is his own ambition, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only my vaulting ambition" (I, 7, 26).
