The Emotions of Ambition, Remorse, and Fear in Macbeth

Ambition: The Fuel for Macbeth's Actions

Right from the get-go, it's clear that Macbeth is a guy who's got big dreams. The witches tell him he'll be King of Scotland, and boy does that light a fire in him. He’s all about making those dreams come true. But after he goes and kills King Duncan, things start to change. His ambition turns into something pretty dark. He gets obsessed with power and will do whatever it takes to keep his crown.

So, after Duncan's murder, Macbeth feels all sorts of things. Sure, he's kind of proud of what he's done; like he's reached his goal and nobody can stop him now. Remember when he says in Act II, Scene II, "I have done the deed"? That's him feeling accomplished. But don’t be fooled by his confidence – deep down, there’s some serious guilt eating at him.

Remorse: The Shadow of Guilt on Macbeth

Even though Macbeth first feels like he's on top of the world, guilt doesn’t leave him alone for long. It's like he's haunted by what he did to Duncan. Those creepy visions? Yeah, that's his guilty conscience messing with him. In Act II, Scene II, he imagines a bloody dagger pointing right at him. He’s freaked out and goes, "Is this a dagger which I see before me?" It's like his mind's way of showing how guilty he feels for all the blood he spilled.

And then there's this part where Macbeth thinks no ocean could wash away Duncan's blood from his hands – "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" He's basically drowning in regret here, feeling like nothing can make him pure again.

Fear: Paranoia Grips Macbeth

As if the guilt wasn't enough, fear starts creeping in too. Macbeth gets paranoid, thinking everyone around is plotting against him. A big chunk of this fear is because the witches said Banquo’s family would get the throne someday. That totally freaks him out! So what does he do? He orders Banquo's murder to wipe out any threats.

After Banquo bites the dust, Macbeth's paranoia hits an all-time high. During a banquet, he sees Banquo's ghost just chilling there! It freaks him out completely – "Avaunt! and quit my sight!" He's shouting at thin air because his actions are catching up with him and driving him mad.

The Final Curtain: Lessons from Macbeth’s Downfall

To sum it up, ambition drove Macbeth to do awful stuff, remorse ate away at him inside, and fear took over his mind till everything fell apart. His story shows us how unchecked ambition can lead you down a dark path. And how living with regret and fear isn't much of a life either. Shakespeare really digs deep into these emotions in Macbeth, making us think about our own desires and choices.

Diving into how Macbeth deals with King Duncan's murder gives us insight into what makes this play tick emotionally. It's a reminder of how powerful ambition, guilt, and fear can be in shaping our actions. As we go through life, it's important to think about what drives us and face any inner demons head-on.

References

• Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine, Folger Shakespeare Library, 2012.
• Bloom, Harold. Macbeth: A Critical Guide. Chelsea House Publishers, 1991.
• Kastan, David Scott (Ed.). A Companion to Shakespeare. Blackwell Publishers Ltd., 1999.
• Nuttall A.D., Shakespeare the Thinker, Yale University Press, 2007.
• Muir Kenneth (Ed.). The Arden Edition of the Works of William Shakespeare: Macbeth. Thomson Learning Emea Ltd., 1984.