Effects Of Guilt In Macbeth

Shakespeare’s Macbeth showcases the effects that guilt can have on a person. One can see both outcomes through Macbeth as he slowly degrades from the person he had been to the monster he became as a result of his sin and lack of confession as well as through Lady Macbeth as the guilt takes over her life, filling her with depression and eventually leading her to her end in the form of suicide.

One can see Macbeth’s slow descent into evil throughout the course of this story. He is quite kind before he hears of witches’ prophecy, and, once he does, one can already see the begin of his downfall as he begins to entertain ideas of murder. These thoughts, however, are overturned by his kind heart and he says that “If chance will have me king, why,

Following the murder of Duncan, he laments greatly over this act of heinous treason he has committed, stating that all of the Neptune’s ocean would not wash the blood from his hands, but rather make them bloodier still. Jumping to the middle of the play, one can already see his heart transforming into a rock of darkness and despair. During this time, he is now worried about the threat of Banquo and his son Fleance to his position as king, and as such he plots to murder them as well, further entrenching him in the ruthless act of backstabbing and treason that has long since enslaved him. He still is tormented by the act of murder, however, as one can see him haunted by Banquo’s ghost following Banquo’s murder. This appearance of his former friend’s apparition terrifies him, making him cry out during his inaugural party at the ghastly sight of his murdered friend. Macbeth also expresses desires to trade places with Duncan stating that “Better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy.” This shows that he is tormented, instead of being at peace like he wished. Finally, one can see the hardening of his heart completed and fully on display in