Guilt

In the play MacBeth by William Shakespeare, MacBeth is a well respected warrior who has a great desire to be king.  MacBeth ends up killing everyone in his way to be king.  Through his journey MacBeth is mislead by the three witches who set him out on his disaster to begin with.  I will be pointing out how the guilt of the cold blooded murders slowly got to MacBeth.                                                                                                       In the second act MacBeth, with the strong urging of his wife kills King Duncan.  After MacBeth commits the murder he sees blood on his hands even after he had washed them.  The blood is a symbol MacBeth's guilt of killing King Duncan and he will have to live with that guilt for the rest of his life.   
Banqou, who is MacBeth's best friend is killed by MacBeth's hired hands.  MacBeth has Banqou killed because he knew of the witches prophecy of MacBeth taking King Duncan's place as King.  While eating MacBeth sees Banqou's ghost sitting where he should be.  This is a good example of how the guilt of Banqou's murder is getting to MacBeth.
In act four MacBeth, driven crazy by the guilt of his cold blooded murders, seeks the guidance of the three witches once again.  MacBeth seeks the witches help because he is scared that a revolt will take place and his place on the throne will be overturned.
MacBeth properly demonstrates what guilt can do to someone's conscience.  William Shakespeare shows how MacBeth's guilt sticks with him after he either murders or has someone murdered.  Guilt eventually drove MacBeth crazy and it resulted in his death.
Shakespeare, William. MACBETH. New York, NY: Spark Publishing, 2003. Print