macbeth fear and guilt

Question 1

what is the theme of fear and guilt in macbeth

Answer 1

​guilt leads to bad things
↳LM died because she is a woman
↳M did not die due to fear because he is a man

Question 2

out damned spot! Out I say!

Answer 2

• the exclamatory statement reveals her fear, anxiety and frustration that the blood will not go away.
• Lady Macbeth’s use of the adjective ‘damned’ suggests that she is aware that she has committed a sin and she is conscious of the repercussions in the afterlife.
• Her guilt and regret are preying/playing on her mind, even in her sleep which suggests just how disturbed she is.

Question 3

stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires

Answer 3

• Macbeth uses juxtapositions in this line to revel his confused and conflicted mind.
• He wants to hide his ‘black’ thoughts of betrayal from the light of the stars – the public word.
• The collective noun ‘stars’ is also symbolic of light, hope and goodness.
• It represents M’s good qualities: his loyalty, his courage, his patriotism and his deep ability to love; it could also be symbolic of Duncan whose ‘kingly becoming graces’ shine through.
• The adjective ‘black’ connotes evil and suggests that M is torn between his, dark side, his temptation to be king, and his loyalty to Duncan.
• He is ashamed of his thoughts and wants to hide them so no one will know.

Question 4

I am in blood​ stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er.

Answer 4

• The noun ‘blood’ is symbolic of violence here.
• He is in a metaphorical river of blood- many have died during his tyrannical reign.
• The verb ‘stepped’ suggests he chose his fate- he walked into the violent acts; he is taking responsibility.​
• Adverb ‘tedious’ shows he is finding it all tiresome.
• Verb ‘returning’ going back; suggests he knows he can’t change his fate now so he may as well continue as a tyrant.