Essay on The Pent-up Guilt in Macbeth - 1720 Words

The Pent-up Guilt in Macbeth There is hardly any emotion in William Shakespeares tragedy Macbeth that outweighs that of guilt. Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are seriously compromised by the impact of this emotion. Clark and Wright in their Introduction to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare explain how guilt impacts Lady Macbeth: Having sustained her weaker husband, her own strength gives way; and in sleep, when her will cannot control her thoughts, she is piteously afflicted by the memory of one stain of blood upon her little hand. (792) In Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy, Northrop Frye sees a relationship between Macbeths guilt and his hallucinations: The future†¦show more content†¦The very use of such a tender allusion in the midst of her dreadful language, persuades one unequivocally that she has really felt the maternal yearnings of a mother towards her babe, and that she considered this action the most enormous that ever required the strength of human nerves for its perpetration. Her language to Macbeth is the most potently eloquent that guilt could use. (56) The Tragedy of Macbeth opens in a desert place with thunder and lightning and three witches who are anticipating their meeting with Macbeth. Macbeth is greeted by the witches with hail to thee, thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor, and thou shalt be king hereafter! When Ross and Angus arrive with news of Duncans reward (He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor), it is logical for Macbeth to assume that all of the weird sisters prophecies will come true. At this point in the play there is no guilt felt. After the kings announcement that We will establish our estate upon / Our eldest, Malcolm, Macbeth says, The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step / On which I must fall down, or else oerleap, for his scheming is seriously underway. At Inverness in Macbeths castle, his lady anticipates Duncans visit: The raven himself is hoarse / That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan / Under myShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare Is A Well-Known And Recognized English1542 Words   |  7 Pages Shakespeare decided to move to London and took up the role of being an actor and a playwright. It wasn’t until 1594 that he began his career with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the leading theater company at the time. 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