In Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," we see the character Macbeth grappling with his conscience as he tries to come to terms with the murder he has committed. This scene is a pivotal moment in the play as it marks the turning point in Macbeth's descent into madness and evil.
At the beginning of the scene, Macbeth is plagued by guilt and anxiety as he is unable to shake off the image of the murdered King Duncan. He speaks to himself in a soliloquy, saying "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" (2.2.58-61). This line speaks to Macbeth's belief that he will never be able to rid himself of the guilt and shame of the murder.
As the scene progresses, Macbeth's anxiety only grows as he begins to fear that he will be discovered. He says, "Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! / Macbeth does murder sleep' - the innocent sleep, / Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, / The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath, / Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, / Chief nourisher in life's feast" (2.2.45-51). Here, Macbeth is expressing his fear that the murder will prevent him from ever finding peace or rest again.
As the scene comes to a close, Macbeth's guilt and anxiety are further exacerbated by the arrival of his wife, Lady Macbeth. She tries to reassure him that they have nothing to fear, but Macbeth is unable to shake off his feelings of guilt and worry. He says, "Nay, had he been my kin, / I would not have put past his throat my knife" (2.2.79-80). This line reveals the depth of Macbeth's remorse and the fact that he is unable to justify the murder to himself.
Overall, Act 2, Scene 2 is a crucial moment in the play as it marks the point at which Macbeth's conscience begins to catch up with him and he becomes overwhelmed by guilt and anxiety. This scene serves to highlight the destructive power of guilt and the consequences of committing a heinous act.
