Macbeth: Guilt and Conscience

Macbeth Essay ~ Guilt and Conscience

“Macbeth”, one of the great Shakespearean tragedies, is arguably Shakespeare’s most profound and disturbing vision of the human conscience, guilt and their workings. This theme of the guilt and conscience is explored throughout the play as the result of the consequences of bad deeds which weigh heavily on the conscience as it was believed in the Elizabethan times that the repercussions of evil acts affected the whole universe. This theme of guilt, conscience and their workings is developed in the play through its principle characters, Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, as well as through the vivid use of imagery and the mood and atmosphere which is created through illusions in the play.

Shakespeare uses the title character of Macbeth to effectively develop the theme of guilt and conscience. This is shown evidently through the development of his character as Macbeth begins as a good, strong, valiant and loyal subject of the king but as...