Lady Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Despite Macbeth’s tyrannous actions the audience is still able to connect with Macbeth despite these actions. There is always one event in everyone’s life that they wish they could undo. Although it is not as extreme as Macbeth murdering the king, the audience is able to empathize the struggles of wanting to undo our wrongdoings. Individuals often find the ideology and sensation of guilt complex and unescapable. A balance must be struck between personal advancement and your own morals, in the play of Macbeth it becomes more and more apparent that this balance cannot be struck. The play is structured around the theme of guilt, as multiple characters present emotion of remorse after violating their moral standards. From the beginning of the play to the end Macbeth, and his wife Lady Macbeth are made out to be ruthless, cold blooded individuals who are power hungry. Shakespeare provides glimpses of guilt throughout the play. The evolution of how both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth perceive, and interpret the bloodshed that they are responsible for throughout the play parallels their change in identity and ability to cope with the surrounding pressures of guilt.

Throughout the tragic play of Macbeth, Macbeth himself represents an apparent transformation in not only his morals but also his motives. At the beginning of the play Macbeth is seen by others as honourable, and respected by his peers. When Macbeth has his first encounter with the three weird sisters he demonstrates that guilt is within him. When the weird sisters’ prophesize that Macbeth will take the throne, Macbeth begins to think of murdering King Duncan, when thinking of this evil thought Macbeth is quoted as saying, “Stars hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep...

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... that they both have the same motives, and carry the same guilt, yet different in the way that they handle the burden of murder. To quote the former President of the United States, the late John Adams, “Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.” This quote is a perfect example that sums up the play, it is saying how you will feel very guilty for waging a war that truly has no positive or productive ending. The, “war,” in the quote serves two purposes, one is the war in your mind which determines what and what not to do, as well as at the end when Donalbain starts a war against Macbeth. In life everyone experiences guilt at one point or another, but the play of Macbeth shows us it’s how we deal with and confront the human sensation of guilt which will define who we are as a person and as a society. We must not allow the thought of power to dictate our moral compass.