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Examples Of Regression In Macbeth

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In Act 2 Scene 2, Shakespeare explores what happens when the chain of being is disrupted and develops both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's characters' regression through the motif of bloody imagery. After Macbeth has killed Duncan, he comes back to his room and is already starting to go mad. In line 62, Macbeth says “they pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood.” This shows that Macbeth is already feeling very guilty and regrets committing regicide. Shakespeare employs the use of a metaphor to exaggerate how bad the crime that Macbeth committed was. Shakespeare is saying that Macbeth has the king's blood on his hands and not even great Neptune’s ocean will be able to wash it off. In this quote, Shakespeare also uses mythological allusion to employ the use of Neptune who is the Roman God of the sea. Macbeth says that not even Neptune’s seas could wash away his crime. Shakespeare also uses the recurring motif of bloody imagery in this scene to exaggerate Macbeth’s madness and guilt. …show more content…

The character regression also foreshadows how Lady Macbeth and Macbeth develop throughout the play. As Macbeth goes mad first and he regresses a lot more quickly than Lady Macbeth who keeps it together until the end of the play. Bloody imagery is also brought up again in this quote as Lady Macbeth now has blood on her hands as well. These techniques also show the audience how Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's worlds are already falling apart because the chain of being which was disrupted after Macebth murdered

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“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” (2.2.27). In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the motif of blood and water represents the crime a person has committed and the “cleansing” of guilt. This motif reoccurs numerous times during the play and is best represent by Macbeth and his wife after they feel the guilt of their crimes.

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In Act 2 Scene 2 of Macbeth the play states, “ To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself” (Shakespeare 2.2.72). This quote shows how bad Macbeth thinks of himself after killing Duncan. Macbeth feels that he is a terrible person for what he did, showing regret for his actions. Secondly, after killing Duncan, Macbeth shows regret by wanting to bring him back. After the death of Duncan, Macbeth wishes he could bring him back.

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Despite these nagging feelings, Macbeth overrides his emotions, primarily because of his wife, and the fear he felt before haunts him after the crime, closely followed by rising guilt. Shaken and frantic, the killers gaze dreadfully at their blood-covered hands shortly after murdering King Duncan. In lines 43-44 of Act 2 scene 2, Lady Macbeth offers a solution to the sinful mess: “Go get some water, and wash this filthy

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He wonders if “all great Neptune’s ocean [will] wash this blood/clean from [his] hand” (2.2.78-9). Macbeth knows what he has done is wrong and he is shaken by his actions. Back then killing on the battlefield was much more respected than cowardly murder on a defenseless opponent. There was a purpose to fighting for an individual’s own country and brave soldiers were very highly revered. Macbeth is seen as this gallant and fearless warrior at the beginning of the play by his captains as they describe how “he unseamed [the enemy] from the nave to th’ chops” (1.2.24).

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After killing Duncan, Macbeth’s mental state changes completely. The difference between the moment before the murder and the moment after is that Macbeth’s lack of determination. He feels personally responsible for the murder and wishes it never happened. Thus, he is afraid to look at the dead body and face what he has done (2.2.54-56). His regret of the murder shows the transformation of Macbeth’s attitude: he lets his remorse overpower him to the point of madness.

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Macbeth is at a serious loss of integrity in these moments as he does the horrific deed by following an apparition, “Is this a dagger I see before me?”. It can be questioned whether the apparition was something more than his own desire to kill and him needing a reason or excuse to get blood on his hands without feeling guilt and with this he doesn’t take responsibility for the actions he carried out. Although Macbeths actions against the king were moments of extreme lack in nobility and integrity, he follows through with great guilt “To I know my deed twere best not know myself. Wake Duncan. I would thou couldst” “all Neptune’s ocean cannot clean his hands”, this metaphor/hyperbole brings back his original character of honor where he is saying that no amount of Neptune’s water can clear his guilt or wash away the blood on his hands or the mistake he has made.

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No this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red. ”(II.ii.79-81) He sees water, which was once pure like his conscience, now forever polluted by the blood resulting from his evil deed. This image acknowledges that Macbeth knows with killing Duncan there is no coming back from what he has done. This guilt and panic causes him to disconnect with reality and hallucinate infinite amounts of blood.

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