Power of Guilt in Macbeth

A detailed Summary of Power of Guilt in Macbeth

The world is full of decisions, and everyone makes wise ones and poor ones at certain points in their life. When poor decisions are made the consequences can result in a fine, prison sentence, death, or even the feeling of guilt. A good example of the effect of guilt on individuals can be seen in Shakespeare's "Macbeth." In William Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, the power of guilt is seen in Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Macduff. The characters' guilt is due to unlawful and shameful deeds, which they have committed.

Macbeth's guilt is seen throughout the play, especially after murders he has committed. Although there are many scenes that illustrate the power of guilt, three examples depict this the best. The first time that Macbeth feels guilt is after the witches prophecies. Macbeth is told that he will one day be king. "If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me, without my stir"(I.iii.142-45). With these words Macbeth is saying, if I become by chance then good if I don't it doesn't matter. "Without my stir" means without effort just like all of the other titles he has obtained. Macbeth next shows guilt in the play when he finds out that Duncan's son, Malcolm will become

Macbeth enters into the king's bedroom and stabs the king, Duncan until he is dead. He begins to hear voices after he commits the shameful deed. He first hears someone say "murder"(II.ii.23) he thinks Donalbain may have said "murder" and knows that Macbeth has just killed the king " Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more!" (II.ii.42-44) Macbeth is frightened by the voices and believes someone knows he has killed the king. After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth returns to his room to join his wife.

Lady Macbeth, unlike Macbeth, has a lack of guilt at the beginning of the play. She seems to be unaffected by the death of Duncan. The only reason she couldn't kill Duncan was because he looked too much like her father when he was asleep. "Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done't" (II.ii.11-12). This quote solicits Lady Macbeth as a heartless and uncaring woman. She seems to acquire more guilt as the play progresses. One of the most important scenes exhibiting guilt in Lady Macbeth is the sleepwalking scene.

Macbeth has now been crowned king and he decides to have a dinner in honor of Banquo. Macbeth has already been conspiring about his friend's death. Guilt seems to play a motivating role when he says, "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill" (III.ii.55) "What Macbeth is referring to is his guilt. "Things bad" stands for the wrong actions he has taken throughout the play. "He feels if he does something bad once, it will bother him. If you do it again, it will him less. If you keep doing it, it will eventually stop bothering him completely" (Macbeth 4). This quote displays for the fact that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have not been able to sleep since Duncan's murder. He also admits in the scene, that after killing Duncan, his morals and guilt were poisoned and used to motivate him to commit more crimes. After word that Banquo has been killed Macbeth begins to hallucinate and sees Banquo's ghost, who he tries to challenge. "Avaunt! And quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!"(III.iv.92-93) The guests are frightened and alarmed by this outburst and Lady Macbeth must once again help Macbeth out of a troubling scene. She states that the king is ill and that is the reason he has acted so strangely. "I pray you speak not. He grows worse and

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Approximate Word count = 1574
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English