The Guilt Of Duncan's Murder In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

Macbeth, the story of two lovers, inseparable from one another, but their desires for power drew them apart. In the first act, the Macbeth’s conjured up a plan to fulfill a prophecy they were given by 3 witches (That Macbeth would be crowned King). As a means, to make this prophecy come true, they planned a murder of king Duncan and thought they should frame his guards for their despicable crime. Little did they know that along the way, they would lose all sense of who they ever were, not only as a couple but as individuals. The plan that began as, “The road to victory” to win the crown, ended with both of them meeting their graves. Some wonder, what exactly drove two sane human beings to the cruel and vicious murder of Duncan; an article

Although they hadn’t been caught, committing serious murder had its toll on Macbeth and instantaneously brought him into a major state of guilt which fed his new grown paranoia. He says to Lady Macbeth, “Whence is that knocking? How is’t with me when every noise appals me? What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine own eyes. Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red.” (Act 2, scene 2, Line: 60) Macbeth unable to recognize himself anymore after committing heinous acts shows serious signs of what Moral Injury: An Integrative Review refers to as “Moral Injury” which is defined as the following, “The damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass” (Found in Syracuse University’s Moral Injury Project) On the flip side, Lady Macbeth, although showing no signs of disturbance by her and Macbeth’s actions is taken aback by the effects this is playing out on her husband. Lady Macbeth being the one to witness his darkest and most private moments, has known of her husband’s deepest secrets and starts to feel an uncertainty about him. Time goes on and Macbeth proves himself unpredictable as he no longer confides in his wife and is seemingly beginning plans of his own. Lady Macbeth expresses her concerns for her

While Macbeth is busy dealing with his paranoia, he kills off Banquo and other people that he deems to be a threat; Lady Macbeth has officially lost her mind and any sanity that she once possessed has depleted from her entirely.” I have two nights watched with you but can perceive no truth in your report. When was it she last walked? Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.” (Act 5, scene 1, line: 5) Lady Macbeth’s doctor and nurse are noticing her odd behaviors and that she’s lost herself, which sparks up a curiosity with them. After further observation of Lady Macbeth, the doctor notes, “More needs she the divine than the physician.” (Act 5, scene 1, line: 50) All hopes for Lady Macbeth to find her sanity have vanished, which calls into question for the other characters what happened to lead her to this mental state. According to Dr. J.C. Prichard from article The History and Present Status of Moral Insanity by John Ellard, “Prichard’s “Moral Insanity” was therefore taken to mean two quite separate things. The first was insanity not of the reason, but of the passions, such as depression and mania. The second was that it