Macbeth guilt essay

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Write about how Shakespeare explores ideas about guilt in this extract and in the whole play?

In this extract Shakespeare shows us how Macbeth is immediately struck with guilty feelings because of the murder of Duncan. Macbeth thought he heard a voice cry "Sleep no more!". This suggests that Duncans murder has resulted in Macbeth hearing noises. It could also imply he is hallucinating.

Macbeth refers to 'sleep' repeatedly in this extract. The use of repetition almost gives a feeling that someone is there reminding Macbeth of what he's done is wrong. The effect of this makes Macbeth not want to sleep as he has to live with killing the king. In act 3 Macbeth talks about the 'terrible dreams' this shows how feared Macbeth is and how it stops him from sleeping. It also implies that the murder is haunting him.

The extent of Macbeths guilt is due to the fact that he's not only just murdered somebody but he's murdered the king , when Shakespeare wrote the play they believed in the Divine Right of Kings. This meant that the king was directly in line with god. This could suggest Macbeths later consequences was because of him being immoral.