Lady Macbeth's feelings of guilt in ‘Macbeth’
I can explore how Lady Macbeth’s feelings of guilt change over the course of ‘Macbeth’.
Lady Macbeth's feelings of guilt in ‘Macbeth’
I can explore how Lady Macbeth’s feelings of guilt change over the course of ‘Macbeth’.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Lady Macbeth appears to be suffering from a psychological disorder that causes her to sleep-walk
- This psychological disorder could be interpreted as a result of her guilt
- Lady Macbeth's language echoes that of her husband in earlier scenes
- Lady Macbeth's language might be suggesting that there is no salvation for the crimes that she has committed
Keywords
Salvation - In Christianity, salvation means you are delivered from sin and its consequences. The opposite of salvation is damnation.
Guilt - Guilt is an emotion you feel when you have done something bad. Guilt makes you feel worried and unhappy.
Symbol - If something is a symbol, it represents or expressed an idea. In 'Macbeth', blood is a symbol of guilt.
Echoes - If language echoes previous language in a text, it means it is similar. The slight differences help us notice something new.
Foreshadowing - Foreshadowing is a literary device. It gives the reader or audience a hint or indication of what might happen later in the story.
Common misconception
Lady Macbeth doesn't think guilt is a powerful emotion.
Lady Macbeth acknowledges that guilt can make people 'mad' or 'brainsickly' in 2.2. This is why she tries to reject the emotion.
Equipment
You will need access to William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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