Macbeth The Effects of Guilt Essay - 940 Words

Macbeth, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare and edited by Maynard Mack and Robert Boynton, displays the many ways in which guilt manifests itself and the effects it has on its victims. Throughout the play, characters including Lady Macbeth are deeply affected by guilt in ways they had never expected. Macbeth takes its audience on a journey through the process in which guilty gradually eats away at Lady Macbeth and forces her to do what she thinks is best. Though Lady Macbeth may have initially seemed unaffected by the murders she had been involved in, her desires eventually faded and were replaced with an invincible feeling of guilt which eventually took her life. An overpowering emotion, guilt once lay†¦show more content†¦Lady Macbeth says, â€Å"These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad† (II.ii.41-42), suggesting that the guilty party should dust off their shoulders and ignore the matter at hand, the crime they had committed, b ecause if they dwelled on their crimes too much, they would begin to feel guilt, the unconquerable emotion. Despite the fact that Lady Macbeth’s words seem to simply mean â€Å"feel no remorse†, there is hidden foreshadowing. Lady Macbeth uses the word â€Å"will† to describe the attack of anger and guilt towards one’s action. The word â€Å"will† seems to mean that Lady Macbeth is not saying guilt may or may not plague her, but instead she is suggesting that it very well will attack her and she will be overwhelmed by this feeling and soon enraged by it. Lady Macbeth may become so enraged that she takes action and goes to reckless measures to cure herself of the indomitable sentiment of guilt. Lady Macbeth, a once strong and persuasive woman, used the elimination of guilt from those who surround her as a way of coping with her own guilt and attempting to stop it before it reached her. From time to time, characters such as Macbeth, who were involved in many of the murders that occurred throughout the play, began to feel repentant over their actions but were quickly persuaded that guilt was not what they were feelingShow MoreRelatedEffects of Guilt in Macbeth776 Words   |  4 PagesZirlott Paul Broussard English IV H October 26, 2011 Effects of Guilt in Macbeth The psychological effects of guilt are vividly depicted in Macbeth and cloud the mindset of characters throughout the play. In much of Macbeth, a sense of guilt Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both possess leads them to take actions that ultimately lead to their downfall. It is this sense of guilt that drives them both mad. Guilt plays a large part in influencing Macbeth and his wife act after they have committed their crimesRead MoreThe Effect of Guilt and Evil in Macbeth764 Words   |  4 Pages‘The play, Macbeth, explores the effects of guilt and evil.’ Discuss. William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, explores many different themes including loyalty, betrayal, ambition but is it the powerful theme of evil and the consequent guilt that have the most devastating effects on the play’s protagonist, Macbeth and his loyal wife. Shakespeare’s language and imagery constantly reinforce the theme of evil. The opening scene introduces the themes of evil and disorder as the three powerful hagsRead MoreShakespeares Novel Macbeth1577 Words   |  7 Pagesworld be like if no one felt guilt? If no one ever caught caught for their crimes? In Shakespeares novel, Macbeth, the main characters commit crimes driven by their ambition. 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Macbeth got too greedy and wanted more power, which led him to murder innocent people in order for him to keep his throne. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare utilizes the blood motif to demonstrate the continuous feelings of guilt felt by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and to distinguish the changesRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1495 Words   |  6 Pages X. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the characterization of Macbeth to convey the corrosive effects of evil on a person’s psychological state. This presentation of Macbeth suggests that while humanity is inherently good, the drastic effects of evil actions can wreak havoc upon a person’s reasoning skills and cause one to behave in a volatile manner. Macbeth’s internal struggle before committing the act of killing Duncan displays the detrimental effects of the initial thoughts of evilRead MoreEssay on bloodmac Importance of Blood in Shakespeares Macbeth1331 Words   |  6 PagesImportance of Blood in Macbeth  Ã‚        Ã‚   In Shakespeares tragic play Macbeth, the symbol of blood is an important device.   The fundamental physical notion of blood is a stark sign of illness or mishap that all humans must share.   Within Macbeth the imagery of blood is used over and over again and it is developed by Shakespeare until it becomes not only a dominating theme but wholly integrated within the plot.    Perhaps the best way to show how the symbol of blood changes throughoutRead MoreMacbeth Guilt Essay1135 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a tragedy in which the plot evolves in great accordance to the guilt that the individual characters feel. The guilt starts with the planning and execution of the murder of King Duncan. To this event Lady Macbeth and Macbeth react in different ways. They both become guilty in some way or another but the guilt they feel is comprised of different reasons. It is due to their differences in character that they react in the ways they do. While it might not seem like both