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Macbeth Guilt Essay

1113 Words5 Pages

Guilt is defined as a feeling of responsibility or remorse for an offense, crime, or wrongdoing. Society faces guilt due to not following their morals and acting impulsively. Humanity is easily consumed with cruelty and violence due to guilt. In the Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, he warns of the emotional changes through experiencing guilt. Even though Macbeth has felt guilt since the beginnings of his behavior, Shakespeare blood as a symbol to demonstrate how the more blood spilt, the more different the reaction of the guilt will be.
Although Macbeth believes he is strong enough to not be affected by his crimes, Shakespeare shows how Macbeth yields into the guilt of the blood spilt, spiraling into desperation for forgiveness after …show more content…

Additionally, Macduff discovers Duncan’s body and his guards killed by Macbeth, Macbeth explains the reasoning behind why he killed the guards, he begins expressing his love for King Duncan describing “Th’ expedition of my violent love / Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan, / His silver skin laced with his golden blood, /And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature.” (Shakespeare 2.3 129-31). Macbeth explains with detail the feeling of seeing the king dead. After King Duncan was killed, his body was described to have golden blood. Using precious metals such as silver and gold describes Duncan’s nobility. Golden blood is a way to signify royal and pure blood, King Duncan was a noble and innocent king and his murder disrupted the laws of nature. Golden blood is used as a comparison to the violence and cruelty the blood represents for other characters. King Duncan’s innocent blood is used to signify the guilt that manifested itself onto Macbeth after murdering an innocent man. Having pure innocent blood emphasizes the brutality of the crime Macbeth committed. Macbeth acknowledges the innocence of King Duncan’s life and the heavy guilt that comes with …show more content…

Macbeth manipulates two murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance after hearing the apparitions. After orchestrating the murder of those two, Macbeth says to himself “It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood” (Shakespeare 3.4 151). Blood is seen as corruption and violence. Saying blood would have blood suggests that violence leads to even more violence. Macbeth acknowledges his actions will have consequences that are unpreventable. He has no choice but to accept the bloodshed, knowing the guilt will only weaken his ambition. The more bloodshed, the more the weight of guilt is added to Macbeth. The awareness of his actions leads to overarching ambition. His desire for power is the essential reasoning behind all the murders. Shakespeare highlights to society how inevitable guilt can be, and the mental change on an individual. The idea presents that there are two outcomes on how one reacts to the guilt, either let the remorse consume and control, or accept the guilt and live with awareness. After the dinner, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth stay behind while all of the lords leave. Macbeth explains his despair to Lady Macbeth saying “I am in blood / Stepped in so far, that I should wade no more, / Returning we’re as tedious as go o’er.” (Shakespeare 3.4

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