Guilt And Happiness In Macbeth

Guilt and Happiness

The play The Tragedy of Macbeth written by William Shakespeare has many scenes where the nature of man is displayed. The nature of man is usually a natural human act, what a person believes in their core. It can also be described as how someone determines to act one way and their emotions. Nature of man mainly becomes obvious in a situation where you either hear amazing news or in a moment of terror. Additionally, people usually act this way by their own influence, but occasionally other influences come into play. In Macbeth the moments where the nature of man truly comes out, is during deaths or what is thought the be a great success. William Shakespeare is trying to prove through the character of Macbeth that everyone

has a conscience.

Beginning with the deaths, pertaining to the nature of man, Macbeth feels guilty a while after he kills someone or someone is killed because of him.

After Macbeth kills Duncan he begins feeling guilty. He is trying to push away his fear and guilt, but this does not work. Right before Duncan is found dead, Lady Macbeth states “The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures. 'Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil” (2, 2, 53-55). Lady Macbeth is explaining that the dead cannot hurt them anymore, and so there is no need to fear anything or feel guilty, because they are almost the same as pictures. Meaning after a death Macbeth’s natural instinct is to feel guilty of committing this act. Then as he begins feeling this way he states “Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave. After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well. Treason has done his worst; nor steel nor poison, Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing Can touch him further” (3, 2, 23-32). During this scene, Macbeth is almost saying that what has been done is the worst that can be done to Duncan, and now he will receive peace and that also means that Macbeth can receive peace from his guilt. Finally the most prominent time where Macbeth’s guilt is shown is at his dinner party after Banquo is killed, where is ghost returns and sits at the table. This would not of happened until he felt some guilt,

because then his ghost would not of shown up. But when he does show up and begins to act as if he is blaming everything on Macbeth, Macbeth almost begins to go insane and panically said “[to ghost] Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me” (3, 4, 55-57). As Macbeth seems horribly confused and like he is talking to himself, his wife is trying to calm the situation down and it, of course, is not working. Proving that during times of adversity, deep down in Macbeth’s core he still feels guilty for what he has done.

Finally, another moment when the nature of man appears is when notable and exciting news is announced causing happiness.

First, before Macbeth is named the Thane, he receives praise from the king of how well he has fought in the battle and that he has accomplished admirable things. This message is not directly from the king, but comes from his assistants and is still of importance. To tell this message to Macbeth, Ross explains, “The king hath happily received, Macbeth, the news of thy success, and when he reads thy personal venture in the rebels' fight, His wonders and his praises do contend Which should be thine or his…” (1, 3, 90-94). Upon hearing this news, Macbeth appears to be pleased due to it being a natural instinct. Another time in the play when he shows true happiness is when Macbeth is told by the witches that he will be king. He is unsure of this until Ross and Angus tell him that he is now the Thane of Cawdor. Then from this news he joyfully states “[aside] Glamis, and thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind.[to Ross and Angus] Thanks for your pains” (1, 3, 118-120). Once the witches prophecy has come true, and Macbeth is now the Thane of Cawdor, he is naturally exhilarated. Then from this happiness he must share with his wife the news so that she can also be joyful, and know that she is married to the Thane of Cawdor. So he sent a letter to her, which at the end explained, “This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that

thou might’st not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell” (1, 5, 9-13). Then her natural instinct is to join in his happiness. But this part is practically saying that he sent this letter so that she can also rejoice with him in this happy news. Happiness is a natural feeling in men, and even with the terrible acts that he has done, Macbeth still feels and shows this at times.

The nature of man appears in everyone, it is your inner core, or someone might explain it as a conscience. Macbeth usually has felt happiness or guilt from occurrences that include death, or exciting news. The Tragedy of Macbeth written by William Shakespeare is told from the life of Macbeth and usually explains his feelings or his wife’s feelings. These are the nature of man, what comes from their core and how they would act. These feelings can be attributed to their own individual influence and from no one else.