Macbeth's Guilt and Remorse After the Murder

Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth vividly portrays the protagonist's overwhelming guilt and remorse immediately following King Duncan's murder. Shakespeare employs powerful imagery and dialogue to convey Macbeth's psychological torment.

Quote: "Will 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." (Act 2, Scene 2)

This poetic lament illustrates the depth of Macbeth's guilt, suggesting that his crime is so heinous that it would stain entire oceans red with blood. The imagery emphasizes the irreversible nature of his actions and the weight of his conscience.

Macbeth's emotional state is characterized by:

1. Intense regret, wishing to "undo what's done"
2. Hallucinations of voices condemning him to sleeplessness
3. Inability to look at his own bloodstained hands
4. Fear of confronting his own thoughts about the murder

Highlight: Macbeth's statement "I am afraid to think what I have done" reveals his struggle to come to terms with his actions, highlighting the psychological toll of his crime.

Shakespeare's portrayal of Macbeth in this scene evokes both pity and revulsion, as readers witness the immediate consequences of his ambition and moral downfall.