Macbeth's Guilt Analysis

Macbeth begins as a courageous army general. At first, he cannot bring himself to terms with killing King Duncan. Therefore, Lady Macbeth volunteers and sells her soul to evil spirits so that she may complete the act without hesitation. As fate would have it however, irony occurs when Macbeth kills King Duncan himself and Lady Macbeth turns out to be conscience-stricken. It appears that the guilt itself drives her insane, ultimately leading to her demise. When Macbeth finds out about her death, he pessimistically summarizes life as being nothing more than the significance of a candle. Macbeth concludes, “And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!”(5.5. 22-23).

Macbeth is now King of Scotland;

his ultimate goal has been fulfilled. However, he must continue killing other threats to maintain his position of power, resulting in a domino effect of messy blood. He states, “For mine own good all causes shall give way. I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er”(3.4. 167-170). Macbeth’s title did not bring the happiness that they originally wanted. Instead, the driving force of power leads to his eventual destruction. When he finds out the grand news that his wife is dead, his motive to gain power ceases; there is nothing left for Macbeth to gain. The motives of love, power, and happiness are gone. The only thing left for Macbeth to accept is death. Shakespeare chooses to use this realization to be a defining moment for Macbeth. Some audience interpretations may even consider Macbeth a hero. The admirable motivating factor of ambition sparks his destructive trail and his fight and acceptance of his death may be taken as courage. Macbeth cries, “I throw my warlike shield. Lay on Macduff, and damn’d be him that first cries ‘Hold enough!’”(5. 8. 33-34).