Writing Resources
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth the main character and his wife both desire success They took extreme risks to accomplish what they wanted While their savage process to get the most power and become King and Queen is successful at first it rapidly falls into pieces Macbeth goes from being a noble general to a conscience stricken and insane murderer Feelings of regret curse and invade Macbeth s mind and overpower his desire to have all the power This is proved through nightmares ghosts and paranoia and lastly suicide Macbeth was originally a respected and brave soldier that was ready to die for his king However he fell victim to his desires At the beginning of the play it is clear that Macbeth feels timid and guilt and even changed his mind about committing the deed until his wife questioned his masculinity The first obvious outbreak of guilt is illustrated immediately after Duncan s murder when Macbeth breathlessly says One cried God bless us and Amen the other As they had seen me with these hangman s hands Listening their fear I could not say Amen when they did say God bless us 2 2 37 40 It is evident that Macbeth feels severe guilt and shock for his sin which is why he is so haunted on his failure to pray His hands are bloody both literally and figuratively stating that the stains will never go away What hands are here Ha they pluck out mine eyes Will all great Neptune s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand No this my hand will rather
