The Guilt of Shakespeare's Macbeth

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The Guilt of Macbeth

There is guilt throughout the play that motivates Macbeth. This guilt drives Lady Macbeth to insanity, which in the end causes the death of Lady Macbeth. Throughout the play Macbeth's deeds do no good his for conscious and his inheritance of the throne. There have been several occasions that Macbeth had experienced his guilt of the crimes he committed and the feeling of the fact that he was to be overthrown. After Macbeth kills King Duncan he feels guilty after committing this crime. Throughout the play there are several times where Macbeth is fallen guilty of his crimes, as well as his lady.

after killing Duncan. Macbeth says,

Methought I heard a voice cry, Sleep no more!

Macbeth does murder sleep...(act2, scene2)

to Lady Macbeth after he killed Duncan. As he hears this you tell that Macbeth is starting to feel guilty of the horrible deed he has done.

I'll go no more.

I am afraid to think what I have done.

Look on't again I dare not.(act2, scene2)

Macbeth says this during the conversation between him and Lady Macbeth after Macbeth killed Duncan. At this point in the play Lady Macbeth still hasn't had any guilt to the crimes she's been apart of.

The second appearance that Macbeth becomes guilt stricken is in act three scene one. The scene starts off with Macbeth talking with Banquo. Macbeth is planning on killing Banquo because he fears that Banquo is becoming quite suspicious. So Macbeth plans on killing Banquo, while Banquo goes out for his night ride with his son Fleance. Due to this Macbeth starts to regain the guilt of him killing Duncan.

For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered,

put rancors in the vessel of my peace...(act3,scene1)

Macbeth states this before he commands Banquo's death. At this point Macbeth seems to be as if he is in quick sand; the more he tries to get out the deeper he falls.

Lady Macbeth has finally reached the end of her sanity, she starts to do some really odd things during the night.

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

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