Macbeth's guilty conscience

Question 1

About the thought of killing King Duncan

Answer 1

‘unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs’

Question 2

Why does Macbeth see a dagger in Act 2 Scene 1?

Answer 2

symbolizes Macbeth’s guilt

Question 3

Act 2, Scene 1 - dagger scene

Answer 3

‘a dagger of the mind, a false creation’

Question 4

Act 2, Scene 2

Answer 4

‘pluck out mine eyes’
–> vision of Duncan’s blood on his hands
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/ Clean from my hand?
–>he doesn’t think anything will ever wash the metaphorical blood from his hands

Question 5

Act 2, Scene 3

Answer 5

‘terrible dreams’
‘torture of the mind’

Question 6

Act 3, scene 4 - banquet scene

Answer 6

‘quit my sight. Let the earth hide thee.
–> his guilt cannot handle seeing the ghost of Banquo
–> causes him to be driven mad in front of his Thanes

Question 7

How does Banquo’s ghost represent Macbeth’s guilt?

Answer 7

this hallucination could be seen as a symptom of Macbeth’s mind becoming more and more unbalanced because of the guilt he feels