Shakespeare's Novel Macbeth

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Recommended: Short analysis on Macbeth

What would the world be like if no one felt guilt? If no one ever caught caught for their crimes? In Shakespeare's novel, Macbeth, the main characters commit crimes driven by their ambition. After committing the first crime Macbeth, the main antagonist is overwhelmed with guilt. His wife, Lady Macbeth plotted the first crime and was the main force pushing Macbeth to kill. In the end Macbeth is charged with the truth and Lady Macbeth kills herself both brought down equally from guilt. Guilt and fear of being found out causes anxiety and slow disintegration of the subconscious which leads to psychosis and therefore, because of insanity causes confession of crimes or suicidal thoughts.
According to the Medical Health Foundation, anxiety is a common fear based on the possibility of something going wrong in the future (“Fear and Anxiety”). In Macbeth many of the character experience anxiety. They both are scared that someone will find out what they did. Fear and anxiety can be very traumatizing, also excessive worry can become so irrational that people cannot think clearly or focus on reality (“Physical Effects” 2). This is important because when people begin to lose their grip on reality they also slowly lose their grip on humanity. That leads to them doing things that they would not do with their right mind. They become more insane the longer they do not have a grip on what is actually going on. People with anxiety often have irregular sleeping patterns and do not get much sleep (“Fear and Anxiety”). When people lose sleep they get cranky and lash out at people, becoming more sensitive than usual. This sensitivity will affect how emotional they will get, and how they may react. Lastly, if excessive worrying goes untreated, it will...

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... Anxiety”. Medical Health Foundation, Web. 16 February 2014.
Holt, Michael. “Guilt, Its Effects and How to Overcome Regretful Feelings”. Yahoo, 30 April 2007. Web. 16 February 2014.
Jamieson, Lee. “Lady Macbeth Character Analysis”. About.com, Web. 16 February 2014.
Jamieson, Lee. “Macbeth's Guilt”. About.com, Web. 16 February 2014.
Marron, Dorthy. “Guilt”.16 February 2014.
“Physical Effects of Worrying”. Web MD, Web. 16 February 2014.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. London:1892. Print.

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