William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth tells the story of the tragic hero. Throughout the play, Macbeth is portrayed as the tragic hero who is defined by his choices and free will.
Macbeth becomes so consumed with the idea of power that the honourable nobleman he once was becomes the victim of circumstance. The theme of guilt portrays Macbeth’s self destruction throughout the play and his wilful blindness to the reality of his misguided actions. During the beginning of the play, Macbeth is seen as a nobleman who stands by honour and justice; however, he soon becomes compelled by the prophecies of the three weird sisters. The prophecies claim Macbeth will be King of Scotland which leads him down a dangerous path. Guilt plays a strong role …show more content…
Macbeth is so horrified by his actions, that he carries the daggers out with him and refuses to return them. He says to his wife “I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on’t again, I dare not”(Act 2, sc(ii) lns 52-3) and believes he heard a voice cry “…Glamis hath murdered sleep…Macbeth shall sleep no more” after he stabbed Duncan. He is so consumed by his guilt that he cannot sleep during the night. The daggers simply symbolize the act of killing Duncan and the quest of fulfilling the prophecy. The dagger shows the audience the inner battle of the hero. The weird sisters tell Banquo that he will never see the throne, but his son will in the future. After Macbeth hears of this prophecy, he concludes that Banquo must be killed to prevent his throne from being taken. Macbeth does not kill Banquo himself, he has him murdered by two other unidentified characters in the play.
Regardless of the fact that Macbeth did not murder Banquo himself, he still is responsible for his death. Another example of Macbeth’s guilt is when he sees the ghost of Banquo during the banquet. Lennox offers him a seat at the table but Macbeth sees it is occupied by none …show more content…
He is now not frightened by the crimes he has committed and thus begins his journey of self destruction. As Macbeth makes peace with his wrong doings, Lady Macbeth begins to verge on the brink of madness. In the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is portrayed as independent and ruthless. After the events of killing
Duncan, she and Macbeth wash their hands with water in an attempt to wash away their sins.
However, the guilt in her subconscious mind eventually comes back to haunt her. She wanders around at night sleep walking and continuously washes her hands. As the doctor and gentlewoman view her during one of her episodes, Lady Macbeth says “Here’s the smell of blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”(Act 5, sc(i)lns 34-5).
Duncan’s blood is on her hands as well, and she falls into a fit of hysteria. The blood symbolizes her guilt she denied for so long. She is unable to see past her guilt and as a result it suffocates her mind. Lady Macbeth is found dead after falling from a great height; it is assumed that she committed suicide. When Macbeth learns of her death, he immediately responds with the words “She should of died hereafter. There would have been time for such a word…and all
Macbeth becomes so consumed with the idea of power that the honourable nobleman he once was becomes the victim of circumstance. The theme of guilt portrays Macbeth’s self destruction throughout the play and his wilful blindness to the reality of his misguided actions. During the beginning of the play, Macbeth is seen as a nobleman who stands by honour and justice; however, he soon becomes compelled by the prophecies of the three weird sisters. The prophecies claim Macbeth will be King of Scotland which leads him down a dangerous path. Guilt plays a strong role …show more content…
Macbeth is so horrified by his actions, that he carries the daggers out with him and refuses to return them. He says to his wife “I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on’t again, I dare not”(Act 2, sc(ii) lns 52-3) and believes he heard a voice cry “…Glamis hath murdered sleep…Macbeth shall sleep no more” after he stabbed Duncan. He is so consumed by his guilt that he cannot sleep during the night. The daggers simply symbolize the act of killing Duncan and the quest of fulfilling the prophecy. The dagger shows the audience the inner battle of the hero. The weird sisters tell Banquo that he will never see the throne, but his son will in the future. After Macbeth hears of this prophecy, he concludes that Banquo must be killed to prevent his throne from being taken. Macbeth does not kill Banquo himself, he has him murdered by two other unidentified characters in the play.
Regardless of the fact that Macbeth did not murder Banquo himself, he still is responsible for his death. Another example of Macbeth’s guilt is when he sees the ghost of Banquo during the banquet. Lennox offers him a seat at the table but Macbeth sees it is occupied by none …show more content…
He is now not frightened by the crimes he has committed and thus begins his journey of self destruction. As Macbeth makes peace with his wrong doings, Lady Macbeth begins to verge on the brink of madness. In the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is portrayed as independent and ruthless. After the events of killing
Duncan, she and Macbeth wash their hands with water in an attempt to wash away their sins.
However, the guilt in her subconscious mind eventually comes back to haunt her. She wanders around at night sleep walking and continuously washes her hands. As the doctor and gentlewoman view her during one of her episodes, Lady Macbeth says “Here’s the smell of blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”(Act 5, sc(i)lns 34-5).
Duncan’s blood is on her hands as well, and she falls into a fit of hysteria. The blood symbolizes her guilt she denied for so long. She is unable to see past her guilt and as a result it suffocates her mind. Lady Macbeth is found dead after falling from a great height; it is assumed that she committed suicide. When Macbeth learns of her death, he immediately responds with the words “She should of died hereafter. There would have been time for such a word…and all