Act 2 Scene 3

In this scene King Duncan was found to be dead. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth had pinned the murder on the guards, which Macbeth had then killed. Once again blood symbolises guilt. When Macbeth says
“the murderers, steep’d in the colour of their trade” he is talking about the guards being covered in blood. However they did not cover themselves in this blood because they did not kill King Duncan. The blood they are covered in symbolises guilt, although it isn’t there guilt because they are not responsible for the murder of the King. Using blood as a symbol for guilt helps the audience know how Macbeth feels about his actions.