Macbeth - Guilt and innocence

Question 1

“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash______

Answer 1

this blood / Clean from my hand?”

Macbeth (Act 2, Scene 2)

Analysis: After Macbeth kills King Duncan, he is immediately overwhelmed by guilt and remorse. In this line, he wonders if even all the water in the sea could cleanse him of the blood on his hands, symbolizing the depth of his guilt. The enormity of his crime is too much to undo, and the guilt is so intense that it feels permanent. This is a pivotal moment that shows how Macbeth’s conscience begins to tear him apart, and he realizes the gravity of his actions.

Question 2

“Out, damned______

Answer 2

spot! Out, I say!”

Lady Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 1)

Analysis: Lady Macbeth, who had previously been the more ruthless character, is now consumed by guilt. As she sleepwalks, she tries to wash imaginary blood from her hands, symbolizing her inability to rid herself of the guilt that haunts her. Her madness is a direct result of her deep-seated remorse for her role in Duncan’s murder. This line highlights the psychological toll that guilt takes on individuals, even those who may have once been willing to commit terrible acts.

Question 3

“A little water clears us of______

Answer 3

this deed: / How easy is it, then!”

Lady Macbeth (Act 2, Scene 2)

Analysis: After Duncan’s murder, Lady Macbeth reassures Macbeth that washing away the blood will rid them of their guilt. She believes that the physical act of cleaning their hands will cleanse them of the moral stain of the crime. However, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that guilt cannot be washed away so easily. This line contrasts with Lady Macbeth’s later descent into madness, where the imaginary blood on her hands cannot be removed, symbolizing the inescapability of guilt.

Question 4

“Macbeth does murder____

Answer 4

sleep, the innocent sleep”

Macbeth (Act 2, Scene 2)

Analysis: After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is unable to sleep, as he has "murdered sleep." This line beautifully describes how sleep, representing peace and rest, is now denied to Macbeth. His guilt robs him of the simple comfort of sleep, highlighting the mental and emotional toll of his crime. Sleep is metaphorically linked to peace of mind, and the murder of Duncan has stolen both from Macbeth, trapping him in a state of unrelenting anxiety.

Question 5

“I have almost forgot the taste of_____

Answer 5

fears”

Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5)

Analysis: Macbeth, in this line, reflects on how he has grown numb to fear and horror due to the repeated violence he has committed. His guilt has desensitized him, and he no longer reacts to the atrocities around him. This passage shows how Macbeth has become so accustomed to murder and violence that he is no longer disturbed by the consequences of his actions. Guilt, in this sense, can lead to desensitization, but it also implies that Macbeth is spiritually and emotionally dead, incapable of feeling the remorse he once did.