Theme Of Guilt And Conscience In Macbeth

This masterpiece written by Shakespeare was first performed in 1605, (1605 being the same year as the Gunpowder Plot, having a vast link to Macbeth). Shakespeare's main intention behind writing this play was to exemplify the brutal consequences of attempting to overthrow the monarchy. The theme of guilt and conscience is firmly elaborated within the play, seen greatly through the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth along with the good use of technical devices and evocative imagery. As a result of these characters' actions, they suffer guilt which plays an on heavily upon the character until their conscience is completely demolished. The first portrayal of guilt and conscience in the play is during Act 1 Scene 3. We see quite evidently …show more content…
This quotation is said by Macbeth after witnessing the ghost of who he has murdered, his once companion and friend, Banquo. This scene shows Macbeth's guilt and his conscience coming into action once again as a vision as it was Macbeth who ordered Banquo to death, after him having suspicions of Macbeth killing Duncan. We see now that, funnily enough, Macbeth's guilt from a previous scene has led to another scene emphasising his guilt. We see this throughout the play quite evidently this pool of guilt getting larger and larger until it has reached its highest point. As soon as Macbeth comes into contact with the ghost of Banquo, corruption is brought to his mind and his conscience flattened and destroyed and overridden with guilt causing the conscience of Macbeth to what was ambition to guilt and anxiety. As a result of this build-up of guilt within him, he acts insanely in front of many gathered around him, once again implying he has a weakness of giving in to things easily and is not mentally strong presently at that time. This quote also suggests the transition that has occurred on Macbeth as a result of this guilt. His ambition has been to great and looks like to continue that way in the future. Macbeth becoming king is almost an addiction to him and will go to any sorts of measures to make sure he receives his desired outcome. As mentioned earlier, his strength psychologically is very weak at this time and is unable to think straight and decide accordingly resulting in him regretting his action to go back in time has already had his self confidence and ego within him shattered, that his mental state at this moment of time is not fit for a monarch at all. Macbeth's misery is also emphasized by the above quotation as he admits himself from