The Horrors f Guilt
The Horrors of Guilt
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a story of desire, betrayal, and murder. As the play unfolds it becomes obvious that the guilty conscience of many of the characters in the play has a powerful effect on their personality and actions.
In the opening scene of the play readers see Macbeth as a loyal and heroic man. A soldier describes his efforts in protecting Duncan’s throne during the civil war “For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name— Disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour’s minion carved out his passage 1.2.18-21
Duncan was even proud of Macbeth’s efforts “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!” 1.2.26 Macbeth is seen as a hero in Scotland because of his victories in the civil war, but unfortunately Macbeth lets his success and greed go to his head. He wishes to be king, and with Lady Macbeth’s encouragement kills Duncan in order to fulfill is ambitions. Almost immediately after the murder Macbeth finds himself over powered by feelings of guilt. Macbeth confesses to Lady Macbeth that he will no longer be able to sleep.
Methought, I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleave of care,
The death of each day’s life, sore labour’s bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,
Chief nourisher in life’s feast—
2.2.47-52
Macbeth feels as if he will no longer be able to sleep and thus not be able to clear his problems from his mind. Consequently instead of using sleep to clear his mind Macbeth uses murder. Macbeth knows that the murders have only begun and soon he will have more experience to make it easier for him to deal with the horrors he has created. He confesses these thoughts to Lady Macbeth after he saw Banquo’s ghost at the banquet. “... My strange and self abuse/ Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use : / We are yet but young in deed.” 3.4.173-175 By the
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a story of desire, betrayal, and murder. As the play unfolds it becomes obvious that the guilty conscience of many of the characters in the play has a powerful effect on their personality and actions.
In the opening scene of the play readers see Macbeth as a loyal and heroic man. A soldier describes his efforts in protecting Duncan’s throne during the civil war “For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name— Disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour’s minion carved out his passage 1.2.18-21
Duncan was even proud of Macbeth’s efforts “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!” 1.2.26 Macbeth is seen as a hero in Scotland because of his victories in the civil war, but unfortunately Macbeth lets his success and greed go to his head. He wishes to be king, and with Lady Macbeth’s encouragement kills Duncan in order to fulfill is ambitions. Almost immediately after the murder Macbeth finds himself over powered by feelings of guilt. Macbeth confesses to Lady Macbeth that he will no longer be able to sleep.
Methought, I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleave of care,
The death of each day’s life, sore labour’s bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,
Chief nourisher in life’s feast—
2.2.47-52
Macbeth feels as if he will no longer be able to sleep and thus not be able to clear his problems from his mind. Consequently instead of using sleep to clear his mind Macbeth uses murder. Macbeth knows that the murders have only begun and soon he will have more experience to make it easier for him to deal with the horrors he has created. He confesses these thoughts to Lady Macbeth after he saw Banquo’s ghost at the banquet. “... My strange and self abuse/ Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use : / We are yet but young in deed.” 3.4.173-175 By the