Lady Macbeth and Macbeth react differently to the death of King Duncan in Act 2 Scene 2. While Macbeth goes through a turmoil of emotions, starting with guilt and remorse; to then horror as he is stricken with his conscience; to dread after he is unable to say ‘Amen.’ Lady Macbeth, however, doesn’t feel guilty for her or her husband’s actions at all, and takes the initiative after Macbeth fails to do so. Macbeth’s first reaction to the murder of King Duncan is remorse, which he expresses by saying “This is a sorry sight.” He also continues to show more remorse as the scene carries on and after the act of murdering King Duncan begins to sink in, when later he says, “I’ll go on no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; look on’t again, …show more content…
In comparison to Macbeth, Lady Macbeth shows no guilt. This is shown when she says, “A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight,”, “A little water clears us of this deed,” and “These deeds must not be thought.” While Macbeth’s first reaction to Duncan’s death is to call it a ‘sorry sight’, Lady Macbeth immediately dismisses him, she does so again multiple times throughout the scene. Lady Macbeth, while her husband is stricken with guilt and horror, takes control over their relationship and scolds him for feeling remorse. She shows her authority over him in this scene and goes against the typical Jacobean ideal for women at the time. In reference to her previous wish in Act 1 where she said, “unsex me here”, it become evident that she has been, as she acts more ‘like a man’ than Macbeth does after Duncan’s murder. Additionally, the fact she says only a ‘little water’ will wash away her deeds, in contrast to Macbeth who says not even Neptune’s oceans can wash his hands clean, brings attention to her lack of remorse and cold-hearted nature, due to the promise of power of Macbeth and her being