Guilt

Guilt plays a big role in Macbeth. In the beginning of our story when Macbeth kills he is filled with guilt. He believes that he feels guilt only because he is an unexperienced killer. Later he becomes evil and no longer feels guilt when killing. Even the wicked witches call Macbeth wicked. At first, Macbeth doesn't even want to kill Duncan because he feel as if it is wrong. After Duncan dies, and everyone starts talking about it, Macbeth makes a big scene to try and hide his guilt. This fails and Lady Macbeth distracts the nobles to prevent them from finding out the truth. At the banquet after Banquo is killed, Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost and is frightened. The party guest are horrified and shocked by Macbeth's vision. Later, Macbeth decides to go ahead and kill anyone he is suspicious of. In Macbeth, guilt makes people go crazy.

Lady Macbeth is also affected by guilt. Though Lady Macbeth doesn't play a direct part in these killings, she feels guilt about them. In the beginning, Lady Macbeth believed that if you washed off the blood from your hands, you were no longer guilty. She said that even though she put blood on the guards, she was disappointed that her heart was innocent, because she didn't stab Duncan. Overtime guilt builds up in her and she has to release it from her body somehow, so she confesses in her sleep. When the doctor and care keeper hear her talking about the crimes her husband and she have done, Lady Macbeth says that no matter how hard she tries the blood still stains her hands. This blood signifies the guilt she has for her husband's crimes. Throughout the play, guilt affects characters by making them insane. Guilt show the idea through the play that the guilt or blood never goes away.