The Burden of Guilt/Conscience
By: Samantha Peel, Sid Chandran,
Holly Reed, Cydney Lee
Act 1 Scene 7 Page 39
• Macbeth contemplates the fact that Duncan is
a successful ruler and therefore, does not
deserve to be killed in his own home. Macbeth’s
home was where Duncan invested his trust in
Macbeth’s ability to provide protection.
• “ If th’ assassination could trammel up the
consequence and catch with his surcease success,
that but this blow might be the be-all and the
end-all here” (39).
Act 2 Scene 1 Page 57
• Macbeth could not say “Amen” because he had
just committed the awful crime of murdering
Duncan. He had went against God and
therefore, is unable to participate in a religious
sacrament.
• Macbeth: “‘But wherefore could not I
pronounce ‘Amen’? I had most need of blessing,
and ‘Amen’ Stuck in my throat.’”
Act 2 Scene 2 Page 59
• Directly following the murder, the Macbeths
believe that they hear knocking at the door and
fear that they have been heard/found out.
• Macbeth: “‘How is ‘t with me when every noise
appalls me? What hands are here! Ha, they
pluck out mine eyes.’”
Act 2 Scene 2 Page 57
• Macbeth admits that he has “murdered sleep” both
literally and symbolically. Macbeth literally murders
Duncan in his sleep while he is in his most defenseless and
innocent state. As a result, Macbeth has ruined his own
chances at sleep because he is kept awake by the constant
guilt.
• Macbeth: “Methought I heard a voice cry “sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep”-the innocent sleep, sleep that
knits up the raveled sleave of care.”
Act 3 Scene 4 Page 105
• During the feast, Macbeth hallucinates and thinks he
sees Banquo’s ghost. This symbolizes the everlasting
guilt that wanders upon Macbeth’s subconscious
mind.
• Macbeth: “Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the Earth
hide thee. Thy bones are marrowless; thy blood is cold;
thou hast no speculation in those eyes which thou
dost glare with.”
Act 4 Scene 3 Page 139
• Malcolm tests Macduff by testing his allegiance to
Scotland by calling himself deceitful and malicious.
Macduff passes the test by saying “O Scotland,
Scotland, evincing that Macduff is more loyal to
Scotland than Malcolm. Macduff’s conscience gets
the better of him because he can no longer lie to
Malcolm.
Act 5 Scene 1 page 163
• Lady Macbeth sleepwalks as she is confused about
the sight of blood on her hands. The word “blood” is a
metaphor for guilt and Lady Macbeth understands
that nothing can ever wash it off.
• Lady Macbeth: “Out damned spot! Out, I say!” and,
…Yet who would have thought the old man to have
had so much blood on him?”
Act 5 Scene 1 Page 165
• When Lady Macbeth was sleepwalking, she
hears knocking again. Her conscience was
telling her that she could not undo all the
murders that were committed. The knocking is
partly her consciences and actual exterior
knocking. Symbolically, the knocking is the
knocking of justice, or of vengeance.
Act 5 Scene 8 Page 185
• Macbeth contemplates suicide because he has
already gotten himself so deep into the
prophecies. He comes to the realization that he
cannot turn back now and is heavily weighed
down by the burden of guilt.
• Macbeth: “Why should I play the Roman fool
and die on mine own sword? Whiles I see lives,
the gashes do better upon them.”