Pubilis Syrus, an ancient Latin writer, once said, “A guilty conscience never feels secure.” He expressed that the apprehensiveness, uncertainty, and insecurity associated with guilt, the remorseful feeling of responsibility, play a universal role in the actions and thought processes of all human beings.
In the case of Macbeth, a tragic play written by William Shakespeare, guilt plays such a role in the main characters. Their inability to correctly cope with moral responsibility twists their perceptions and fully transforms them. Guilt is a sentiment used to develop and further the plot in order to create a tragic ending with regard to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
In forming the basis of the rising action, guilt establishes itself as a dominant player in the thought and decision making processes of Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth. Early in the play, when contemplating motives for killing Duncan, both refuse to commit his murder. Guilt is already present at this point of hesitation; Macbeth feels responsible for his duty to the king, and Lady Macbeth says, “had [Duncan] not resembled / my father as he slept, I had done’t” (II.ii.17- 18).
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Duncan serves as a reminder of her father’s image, which she feels responsible and respect for. Unable to commit the murder, Lady Macbeth is forced to persuade Macbeth into action in order to fulfill her ambitions of Macbeth becoming king. As a result, Macbeth is the receiver of direct guilt for first-hand murder. He is swept by a wave of regret immediately after and exclaims, “will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / clean from my hand?” (II.ii.78-79). The blood on his hands is a symbol of ever-lasting guilt, which Macbeth fears will accompany him forever, since his remorse is so great and complete that he thinks the entire ocean will not purge him of any sin.
Conversely, Lady Macbeth remains calm and composed despite Macbeth’s panic. While she does not experience direct guilt for the murder, a seed is planted; she is clearly aware of herself as the mastermind behind the brutal crime when she says “these deeds must not be thought/After these ways” (II.ii.45-46).
She receives an indirect, subconscious form of guilt because she chooses outright to ignore any guilt associated with the crime, which will build up as Lady Macbeth realizes the impact of her actions. She does not have any initial reaction to heavy guilt this way, but Macbeth does. He starts to combat guilt, but he mistakenly starts to perceive guilt as fear. After the pain and guilt Macbeth experiences, he wants to make sure his efforts for the throne were not in vain.
He expresses, “to be thus is nothing,/ But to be safely thus,” which shows that being king is worth nothing unless he is safe (III.i.52-53). His way of dealing with guilt leads him into paranoia, forcing him to make irrational and often murderous decisions. He immediately dissolves his previous friendly relationship with Banquo, because of the witches’ prophecy that deemed Banquo as a huge threat to the throne. Macbeth’s decision to murder Banquo sets him up as the tyrannical ruler he will become for the rest of the play, constantly unsatisfied in his position of power.
