Exam Prep #1

  • Conflict, both internal and external, in Macbeth helps us to understand the main messages of the play.
    Symbolism is used to show the internal and external conflict, often depicted as the image of blood. For example, in the quote “Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?”  we see how the symbol of blood on Macbeths hands shows the internal conflict that he struggles with, believing all the oceans will never wash the blood off and it will stain his conscience forever. This internal conflict shows the message of the play, that ambition can corrupt.  Macbeth battles with his internal demons and we see through the symbol of blood again, that he has committed too much evil to go back,“I am in blood, Stepp’d so far, that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er”.  Shakespeare uses this line of symbolism to invoke the image of a river of blood, that Macbeth is too far through to turn back to the other side of the river.




    1. “I am in blood, Stepp’d so far, that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er”
    2.“Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?”
    3..“Out damned spot! Out!”
    4. “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. “
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  • The first meeting between Macbeth and the witches in Macbeth set all the events in motion that lead to Macbeth’s final despair
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  • Shakespeare used symbolism to engage my emotions of pity, disgust and despair in Macbeth to demonstrzte the idea of corrupting effect of power 

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