Guilt

Question 1

Umbrella sentence

Answer 1

Whilst Macbeth wrestles with guilt to become a cold-blooded murderer, Lady Macbeth succumbs to a guilty conscience later in the play

Question 2

Topic Sentence 1

Answer 2

Macbeth feels guilt at the murder of Duncan as he knows he is a morally good king and the murder is unjustified.
‘will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood from my hand?
‘Wake Duncan with thy knocking, I would thou coulds’t’

Question 3

‘will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood from my hand’

Answer 3

L = hyperbolic imagery emphasizes the magnitude of his crime; even the God of the sea can’t wash the blood away.
D = the blood can be washed from his hands, but it will stain his conscience for eternity.

Question 4

‘Wake Duncan with thy knocking, I would thou coulds’t’

Answer 4

L= structurally it is significant that the murder scene ends with Macbeth’s words of regret – it shows that Macbeth feels deep guilt and remorse for killing a morally innocent king. The tragedy is that he cannot resurrect him or undo his actions. 
C = DRK

Question 5

Topic sentence 2

Answer 5

After Banquo’s murder, Macbeth’s guilt manifests itself in the form of Banquo’s ghost.
‘they rise again… and push us from our stools’
‘rugged Russian bear’ ‘armed rhinoceros’ ‘hyrcan tiger’

Question 6

‘they rise again… and push us from our stools’

Answer 6

L = the stools symbolise the throne – MB ordered B’s death to protect throne but still threatens. Banquo’s ghost is a projection of Macbeth’s guilty conscience that increases his paranoia.

Question 7

‘rugged Russian bear’ ‘armed rhinoceros’ ‘hyrcan tiger’

Answer 7

L = noun. Fierce, killing terrifying animals. MB is more terrified of ghost
D = can't defeat ghost and guilty conscience unlock animals

Question 8

Topic sentence 3

Answer 8

As the play progresses, Macbeth becomes more cold-blooded and no longer wrestles with his guilty conscience before committing murders.
‘I am in blood stepped in so far, returned were as tedious as go o’er’
‘give to the edge of the sword, his wife, his babes’

Question 9

‘give to the edge of the sword his wife, his babes…’

Answer 9

L = emotive language of ‘babes’ shows that Macbeth no longer feels guilt at ordering murders; he is now killing even innocent infants.
R =   despise MB and infants can't defend themselves. No longer noble

Question 10

‘I am in blood stepped in so far, returning were as tedious as go o’er’

Answer 10

L = imagery of river, MB thinks pointless to feel guilt; responsible for lots of murders - can't be undone so pointless to feel guilty; may as well continue to murder anyone who threatens him. 
R = pity for him as he cannot redeem himself.
c = AC Bradley tragic hero: fatal floor, battles w conscience, audience pity, dies

Question 11

Topic sentence 4

Answer 11

Although Lady Macbeth appears ruthless before Duncan’s murder, we see her guilty conscience when she begins sleepwalking; her guilt is so great it eventually leads her to commit suicide.
‘will these hands ne’er be clean?’
‘unnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles’

Question 12

‘will these hands ne’er be clean?

Answer 12

L = RQ. cannot erase guilt/evil from conscience 
R = ironic and previously says 'a little water cleans us of this deed'
C = GPP reminds punishment PROPAGANDIST
C = Jacobeans believed sleepwalking is possession of evil spirits. Moderns audience know it's guilty conscience

Question 13

‘unnatural deeds do bread unnatural trouble’

Answer 13

very guilty. damned soul to hell. God will never forgive her.
C = GPP
R = shocked and frightened