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It is a remarkable feature of these two plays - Macbeth and Hassan - far separated by time and place that they should both be saturated with a profusion of images based on the symbolism of blood in all its extended associations. It has been observed of Macbeth that it has over one hundred references to blood.1 This predominance of blood imagery in Macbeth was earlier noted by the famous scholar, A.C. Bradley, in his authoritative works, Shakespearean Tragedy, where he writes: It cannot be an accident that the image of blood is forced on us continually... even by the reiteration of the word in unlikely parts of the dialogue.2 Subsequent critics have more or less echoed his opinions. Caroline Spurgeon in her well-known study entitled Shakespeare's Imagery and What It Tells Us states: The feeling of fear, horror and pain is increased by the constant and recurring images of blood; these are very marked.3 The Shakespearean critic, G. Wilson Knight, in his noted study of Shakespearean tragedy titled The Wheel of Fire, puts it thus: There is constant reference to blood.... But though blood imagery is rich, there is no brilliance in it; rather a sickly smear.4 It is thus clear that the numerous references to blood in Macbeth are directed to create revulsion in the minds of the readers at the deeds of violence that permeate the play and express horror at the union of pain, injustice and tyranny.
The chief association of 'blood' as a symbol in the sense outlined above is chiefly with the person of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth - prior to the murder of Duncan - invokes the spirits to 'make thick [her] blood'.5 Macbeth debates the murder in his mind and observes: That we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague th' inventor.6 Macbeth's vision of the floating dagger is a prelude to his murdering Duncan. He sees 'gouts of blood'7 on it which hints at the 'bloody business'8 he is about to execute.
After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth sees his blood-stained hands and asks: Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?9 Later, when Lady Macbeth becomes mentally unbalanced as a result of her complicity in Duncan's...