Conscience And Guilt In Macbeth

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Hunger for power motivates action in everyone’s lives. However, one’s conscience and guilt will drive them to take forth in certain actions to obtain power. William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth demonstrates how a need for power can completely alter one’s judgement. In order to gain power, Macbeth must ignore his conscience which also allows him to avoid feelings of guilt; thereby, giving him the crown. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth obtains a conscience which leaves him with guilt when he finds ways to obtain power. Although Macbeth is determined to acquire everything he desires, his conscience tells him to hide his murderous thoughts, “For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desire. The eye …show more content…
Previously, killing a man made Macbeth feel that, “all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No. This my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red” (Ⅱ.ⅱ.81-84). After Macbeth is aware of just how much power he can obtain, he ignores his conscience, allowing him to kill someone he cares about, and is left with little feelings of guilt. Banquo is a good friend to Macbeth, however Macbeth explains that, “ To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared” (Ⅲ.ⅰ.52-55). Continuing to overlook his conscience, Macbeth does not feel guilty about the murders he has committed and instead feels that “Is the initiate fear that wants hard use. [They] are yet but young in deed” and that he and Lady Macbeth simple need more practice (Ⅲ.ⅳ. 178-179). Despite Macbeth transforming into a very powerful man and paying no attention to his conscience, the witches feel as if Macbeth needs to be slightly more confident in order to accomplish even more irrational

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