theme of guilt. innocence and paranoia in macbeth Flashcards
‘to wear a heart so white’
‘out damned spot’
context?
killing a king was a provocative subject when Macbeth was written, James VI was king of England but wasn’t Elizabeths offspring so posed questions if he was right monarch
‘we’d jump the life to come’
he would be ruining natural order, link to the afterlife, christianity, He knows his decisions will make him fully mortal and abandoned by God, hints to the Jacobean people
What is the cost of Lady Macbeths guilt?
endless paranoia, she envies the dead for their peaceful mind ‘all spent’ the cost for being guilty of a crime and her mental ehausation, she is becoming aware of the infinite cycle of violence they are trapped in to satisfy their paranoia
how does shakespear show guilt cant be escaped?
what’s done is done, they have to live with the consequences, she tries to convince herself to let go
How is blood a motif?
Lady Macbeth; ‘go get some water’ water is a symbol of purity and innocence, she isnt focused on what the murder says or what mental impact it will have she only cares about whats happening at that given time and getting the blood off her hands. ‘filthy witness’
Macbeth: is shocked, ‘will all great neptunes ocean wash this blood’ he knows guilt goes beyond the blood on their hands,’neptune’= non christian god, he is turning away from god
How is sleep a symbol?
its innocence and peace, brings comfort and a escape, ‘restless ectasy’ they relive their crimes everytime they close their eyes. ‘macbeth shall sleep no more’ given up all well-being , self destruction,
How does light and dark show guilt and innocence?
englightenment- holiness, darkness = spirits
both macbeths called on darkness to mask their crimes
‘black and deep desires’ - images of decay, macbeth is aware of his immorality and nurtures it, more concerned with avoiding judgement
