Imagery and Symbolism in MacbethWith its revealing plot and interesting characters, William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth is one of the greatest works one can ever read. But, above all, the appearance of the play is most impressive and moving with the imagery and symbolism that Shakespeare uses so brilliantly. Throughout the play, the author describes various types of imagery and symbolism that ultimately lead to the downfall of the main character, Macbeth. Examples of imagery and symbolism are seen throughout the play. Imagery and symbolism are essential elements of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. One of the most important symbolic factors in the play is the presence of blood. It has been noted that the presence of blood “increases feelings of fear, horror, and pain” (Spurgeon, page 20). From the appearance of the bloodied sergeant in the second scene to the very last scene, there is a continuous vision of blood throughout the play. The imagery of blood seems to affect almost every character in the play. This affects Lady Macbeth in the scene in which we find her sleepwalking talking to herself after the murders of Duncan and Banquo: “Here comes the smell of blood again. All the perfumes of Arabia will not soften this little hand. Additionally, blood imagery is present in “weird sisters,” or witches. Most obviously, he is present in act four, scene one, when Macbeth visits the witches to seek their insight and fortune for the future. He is shown three apparitions, one of which is a bloodied child who orders him to "Be bloody, bold, and resolute: laugh into contempt..." Although blood imagery deals with almost every character in the play, nowhere I.... .. middle of paper......, New York, Viking Publishing, 1993. Gove, Philip Babcock. Webster's Third International Dictionary. Springfield, Mass: G. & C. Merriam, 1967 Jorgensen, Paul A. Our Naked Frailties. Los Angeles: University of California, 1971. Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. New York: Penguin Books, 1987. Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth. Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992. Staunten, Howard, The Complete Illustrated Shakespeare, New York, Park Lane Publishing, 1979. Steevens, George. Shakespeare, The Critical Legacy. Flight. 6. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1981. Watson, Robert. Ambition without economy, foolish wishes and the tragedy of Macbeth. Shakespeare and the vagaries of ambition. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1984. Wills, Gary. Witches and Jesuits. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995.