Essay, Research Paper: Macbeth

In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare Macbeth and Lady Macbeth show, “Where guilt is rage and courage doth abound,” stated by Ben Johnson. If a person has guilt they often become raged and have more courage. I agree and disagree with this statement. Some characters from Macbeth can’t forgive themselves for what they did and feel guilt for their actions. Other characters forget their guilt and become raged and have more courage.
Macbeth shows us that where quilt is rage and courage often follow. When Macbeth kills Duncan he can’t overcome the deed that he had done. Macbeth then started to feel as if he couldn’t trust others around him. He also became raged at anyone who was not loyal to him. Macbeth had Macduff’s family murdered because Macduff was said to be a traitor, and fled the country. After the murders of Duncan, Macduff’s family, and Banquo, Macbeth feels that he is superior to. Macbeth then kills young Siward, this makes Macbeth feel even more confident in himself and he has so much courage that he thinks he can defeat the English Army.
Another character from Macbeth is Lady Macbeth. She is the opposite of Macbeth in that she can’t forgive herself and becomes guilty. Lady Macbeth aids in the killing of Duncan and encourages Macbeth to go threw with the murder. At first she was calm and says, “A little water will clear us of our deeds.” But after her guilt sets in Lady Macbeth can’t sleep. She later starts to sleep walk, reenacting the killing of Duncan.
The characters in Macbeth show two opposite sides. Lady Macbeth regrets what she has done and she can never forgive herself for that. Macbeth on the other hand, turns his guilt into rage and the courage. In the end both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth get what they deserve for their actions of cruelty.


Word Count: 312