Macbeth Guilt Essay

512 Words3 Pages

Guilt, a nagging voice in our heads reminding us of the mistakes we’ve made. After killing King Duncan, Macbeth is sent spiraling into a dark place. A shadow follows him, speaking of his wrongdoings. Lady Macbeth was the one who made Macbeth commit the murder. She seemed calm and collected until she slept and washed her hands of “blood”. Let’s not forget when Macbeth has a total meltdown and the banquet. Losing it in front of everyone after seeing Banquo’s ghost. Guilt brought the Macbeth’s down, showing how damaging it is when it eats you alive inside and out. King Duncan’s murder was the epicenter of guilt in “Macbeth”. The regrets of killing Duncan hit Macbeth like a brick wall. The event messed with his mind, and he was stunned by what he did. He thought feelings of power and …show more content…

Sleep no more. Macbeth does murder sleep!”(Shakespeare). Almost like he’s got a sign on his back that says “GUILTY”. His hands are a giveaway that he killed Duncan, so he’s scared by the blood on his hands. “Will all great Neptune’s oceans wash this blood” (Staylor). Macbeth is afraid that nothing will wash his hand of the blood. This guilt sticks with him, making him more and more paranoid as time goes on. Lady Macbeth was all in on murdering King Duncan, in fact she pushed hard for Macbeth to do it. All of a sudden, a switch flipped in her brain. The guilt she felt was like a shadow that kept getting darker. The memory of the deed haunts her. She begins having nightmares and starts sleepwalking. Out, damned spot, damned spot! Out, I say!” (Shakespeare). Lady Macbeth hallucinates that the blood of King Duncan remains on her hands. When sleepwalking, she constantly washes her hands, as to wash away the sins of her past. “What’s done cannot be undone.” (Shakespeare). She’s trapped in a never-ending spiral of remorse. Her mental state just crumbles as the guilt shatters her core. Macbeth’s guilt continues to build throughout the

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