Effects Of Guilt In Macbeth

How does a sense of guilt affect a person? The sense of guilt tends to motivate an individual to make positive changes in their life and behaviour, yet it is more likely to cause negative effects. William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, explores the theme of guilt and its destructive effects. The play tells the story of Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman who commits a series of murders to attain the crown. As he spirals deeper into a web of misdeed and violation, Macbeth’s guilt consumes him to suffer from an unrelenting sense of remorse, desensitizing him to his irrevocable deeds. The sense of guilt affects Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth as well, possessing her sanity and eventually bringing her to her despairing decease. This essay will explore the

At the beginning of the play, a respected Scottish general, Macbeth, receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become king. Driven by his own ambition and the encouragement of his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth murders King Duncan to secure the throne. However, after the murder, Macbeth expresses a sense of relief that the deed is done as he acknowledges the weight and consequences of his irrevocable action, “I have done the deed” (2.2.14). Macbeth also experiences hallucinations after the murder of Duncan, hearing a voice saying, “sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” (2.1.47-48). This hallucination is a clear indication of Macbeth’s disturbed and tormented mental state after committing the murder. Furthermore, Macbeth expresses the feeling of remorse that the guilt and shame of his action will never be washed away. He says, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand” (2.2.57-58) as he recognizes the severity of his crime, and regrets of his wrongful act, “o, yet I do represent me of my fury / That I did kill them” (2.3.113-114). William Shakespeare portrays the theme of guilt through Macbeth’s murder of Duncan as it marks the initiation of his eventual descent into

Directly after the murder of Duncan, Macbeth expresses a great sense of guilt and regret as he says, “I am afraid to think what I have done” (2.2.61). However, Macbeth begins to justify his evil deeds, convincing himself that it would be as difficult to stop as it would be to continue, “ stepped in so far that, should I wade no more / Returning were as tedious as go over” (3.4.163-4). Macbeth acknowledges that he has committed numerous violent acts that he cannot turn back and undo what he has done. Despite his guilt and remorse, he continues to commit more violence and crimes to maintain his