Why Is Guilt Important In Macbeth

In the tragic play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, a theme of guilt is very evident. Many symbols are used to show the guilt of the characters, primarily blood and the dagger. Throughout the play many thing happen to cause characters to feel a great deal of guilt. Three characters who are most affected by the guilt are Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Macduff. In Macbeth the play opens with three witches prophesizing about Macbeth’s future: “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (I, iii, 48-50) Just the thought of any of this coming true seems unreal to him until he finds out that he is actually named Thane of Cawdor. The news gives