"Guilt is a very powerful emotion that can destroy even the strongest people. If the situation is dealt with correctly and forgiveness is requested, the sting of guilt can be minimized. However, if it is dealt with incorrectly, it can destroy lives. This is what happened in the story Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Macbeth suffers from the guilt of killing many people and Lady Macbeth suffers from the guilt of persuading Macbeth to kill King Duncan...Macbeth and Lady Macbeth dealt with their guilt differently. Macbeth started with a good conscience which told him not to kill Duncan. Lady MacBeth’s greed took hold from the beginning. She wanted Macbeth to rule and did not consider the consequences of such a sin."
Ninjablada, Bookstove RSS
In the beginning, Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, were free of guilt. As different events, specifically murders occured, Lady Macbeth realized that although she got what she thought she wanted, which was the crown and power, she wasn't happy. In Act VI, Scene I we see guilt taking a huge tole on Lady Macbeth as she frequently sleepwalks.
"To bed, to bed; there's knocking at the gate, come, come, come, come, give me your hand: what's done cannot be undone; to bed, to bed, to bed."
Guilt is slowly eating away at Lady Macbeth, she has a desire to forget everything that has happened and to forgive herself and her husband for everything they have done but she just can't do that. Guilt ended up getting the best of Lady Macbeth, she later killed herself.
The Miscellany: Congress 2012.