Conclusion

• Shakespeare’s Macbeth intricately explores the subject of guilt by depicting how societal standards influence and create an individual’s remorseful conscience.
• Macbeth’s overwhelming remorse stems from his unchecked ambition and tragic flaw, complicated by his adherence to the Divine Right of Kings.
• Lady Macbeth’s regrets are magnified by the societal and religious expectations placed upon her, particularly regarding her gender.
• Despite the shared societal pressures and views, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth manifest and grapple with their guilt in distinctly different ways, illustrating the complexity between personal conscience and societal norms.
• This shows how Shakespeare’s nuanced portrayal of the motif of guilt and the effect it has on varying characters are explored through societal norms in the text Macbeth.