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Lady Macbeth's Guilt in Macbeth - College Papers

Lady Macbeth's Guilt in Macbeth

A Little Water Cannot Clear Her of The Deed

British literary critic and essayist, William Hazlitt once said of Lady Macbeth “The magnitude of her resolution almost covers the magnitude of her guilt.” What this means is Lady Macbeth's desire for power is immense, but it was superseded by her guilt. Although she was such a confident and authoritative character, Lady Macbeth was broken down by such a simple emotion as guilt. The theme of Lady Macbeth's guilt is the most important in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth because it leads to the deterioration of her character, mental state, and eventually, her death. Although her guilt is not initially perceived in the play, it proves to be a strong ...

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husband could deter her from getting what she wants: the throne. Lady Macbeth makes it clear that she will not allow this weakness of conscience to affect their plan. This is ironic because after the murder she is the first to call away their deeds and to not let it be spoken of:

“These deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.”
(Act II, Scene i)

The emotion of guilt seems to already control Lady Macbeth and give her an uneasy conscience. Before the murder, the thought of Duncan’s killing was something Lady Macbeth had control over in her mind, but after it becomes a burden that is too hard for her to handle. This shows how Lady Macbeth cannot “stop up the access and passage to remorse” and begins to falter and under the weakness of guilt.
Lady Macbeth's guilty conscience slowly drives her mad which is something she fears. The broken woman is haunted by sleeping Duncan because of his similarity to her father.

Had he not resembled
My ...

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Lady Macbeth's Guilt in Macbeth. (2011, May 9). Retrieved January 11, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Lady-Macbeths-Guilt-in-Macbeth/99019

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 5/9/2011 08:25:20 PM
Submitted By: mcannoli09
Category: Shakespeare
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 737
Pages: 3

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