Motif

In Act II blood becomes an important motif. Blood first appears in scene one lines 45-46. "I see thee still, and on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, which was not so before. There's no such thing, its the bloody business which informs thus to mine eyes." In these scene Macbeth is thinking about murdering Duncan and how he feels bad about it. As he follows the dagger towards Duncan's chamber he begins to see blood. The blood indicates the fear and guilt he has for murdering the king. The second time blood is referenced to is after Macbeth kills the king and while Lady Macbeth is framing the servants and he starts to feel remorse. "Will all great Neptune's ocean was this blood from my clean hand? No, this my hand will rather multitudinous seas incardine, making the green one red." (scene 2 lines 57-60) Then when Lady Macbeth gets back she basically says my hands are also covered with blood but I would be embarassed if my heart was as weak as yours. Then she continues to say in line 64 "A little water clears us of this deed." In this quote she is basically saying the water will wash away the evidence of their guilt. This scene between Mabeth and his wife shows how the blood further represents their guilt. Their hands are stained from the blood which symbolizes the guilt that they carry for killing the king. Later in the act the guards are known to be guity because their hands and faces were covered with blood.