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Macbeth Guilt Essay

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In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, guilt is a central theme that drives Macbeth’s actions leading to his psychological decay and downfall, while emphasizing the detrimental nature of guilt and the toll it takes on an individual that commits egregious crimes. The feeling of guilt thrusts Macbeth into a descent into madness, shown by his reaction to Duncan's murder, Banquo's death, and Macbeth’s relationship with guilt signifying femininity.
Macbeth’s initial murder of King Duncan is driven by his ambition, which is fueled by his ego. His desire for power and the prophecy of the witches leads him to ignore his reasonable conscience and commit the heinous act. However, his superego, which represents his moral conscience, begins to haunt him immediately …show more content…

His id desires power and is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain his status, while his superego reminds him of the moral consequences of his actions. Macbeth's ego is caught in the middle, struggling to reconcile these conflicting desires. The fact that Macbeth is unable to control his guilt and is plagued by hallucinations highlights the destructive nature of repressed emotions. By denying and suppressing his guilt, Macbeth's psyche begins to unravel, leading to his eventual downfall. His ego is unable to manage the conflicting demands of his id and superego, and he becomes increasingly isolated and paranoid. The presence of Banquo's ghost is a clear representation of Macbeth's superego, reminding him of the ethical norms he has violated in his pursuit of power. When Banquo’s ghost returns Macbeth states “Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide/thee!” (Shakespeare 3.4 94) As soon as he saw Banquo again he screams out of anger deflecting his guilt with madness. He cannot escape the haunting presence of Banquo’s ghost, which represents the guilt that is eating away at him. Macbeth's id, on the other hand, is focused solely on maintaining his status and is willing to ignore the moral consequences of his actions. He cannot escape the haunting presence of Banquo’s ghost, which represents the guilt he feels for betraying his friend a heinous crime. The fact that Macbeth is unable to control his guilt and is plagued by hallucinations further emphasizes the destructive nature of guilt and how it can lead to one’s

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Similar to its impact on paranoia, the ghost of Banquo is an even better representation of his guilt and how his outward appearance and true feelings clash. Furthermore, Macbeth’s guilt is shown both before and after killing Duncan. When he kills Duncan, he says, “But wherefore could I not pronounce ‘amen’?/I had most need of blessing, and ‘amen’/Stuck in my throat,” which symbolizes that since he has gained the powers of evil by way of murder, he cannot say “amen” (Shakespeare 2.2.31-32). However, it is possible that after the apparition tells Macbeth that he can not be killed by a man born of a woman, the guilt at least somewhat passed due to his feeling of immortality (Shakespeare

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