Guilt In Macbeth

William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, delves into the consequences of having a plethora of ambition driven by the need to claim the throne of Scotland. Throughout this play, Macbeth’s guilt from his actions to claim the throne is present in numerous ways that display his troubled mindset. The manifestation of guilt for Macbeth is illustrated through hallucinations, nightmares, and his inability to cope with his actions after committing crimes. Shakespeare depicts Macbeth’s guilt by portraying Macbeth’s state of mind during Duncan’s and Banquo’s death which are reflected by hallucinations and the corrupting power of unchecked ambition, which ultimately portrays how seeking power and validation at the cost of others can lead to

The hallucination and vision of the bloody dagger illustrates Macbeth's guilt. The phrase “gouts of blood” provides vivid imagery to Macbeth’s troubled state of mind, and by saying that he sees “thee still” it shows how Macbeth has ultimately disconnected from reality and is trying to make sense of his hallucination. He is unable to analyze what is reality and what is a figment of his imagination created by his guilt. In correspondence to the main idea, this shows how in relation to Macbeth’s guilt, a hallucination was created in his mind as a result of murdering Duncan. As the scene further progresses, Macbeth voices his guilt of murdering Duncan by exclaiming, “I’ll go no more: / I am afraid to think what I have done; / Look on’t again I dare not”(Shakespeare 2.2.65-67). This quotation displays how Macbeth's

Macbeth’s guilt is conveyed when he sees Banquo’s ghost at a banquet he is hosting at his castle, after having murderers kill Banquo and attempt to kill his son, which demonstrates the corrupting power of unchecked ambition. Throughout the play, Macbeth’s guilt is reflected through his inner turmoil and the consequences of his actions. Macbeth is speaking with Lady Macbeth about his inner emotions after killing Duncan and planning to kill Banquo and says, "But let the frame of things disjoint, ere we will eat our meal in fear / and sleep in the affliction of those terrible dreams that shake us nightly" (Shakespeare 3.2.10-11). When Macbeth says “in the affliction of those terrible dreams that shake us nightly” it can show how Macbeth is afflicted with sleeplessness as a direct result of his guilty conscience, after he commits murder to secure a place on the throne. He is unable to distinguish whether the actions he is doing are truly resourceful or are solely for his own personal gain. It indicates how Macbeth is unable to enjoy his power as king and feel truly happy without feeling guilty or having a fear of being caught. This is reflected when Macbeth cries out “Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; / Thou hast no speculation in those eyes,” after seeing Banquo’s ghost on his seat at the dinner table (Shakespeare 3.4.114-115). By expressing