Lady Macbeth's feelings of guilt in ‘Macbeth’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore how Lady Macbeth’s feelings of guilt change over the course of ‘Macbeth’.
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.
Teacher tip
Consider watching different adaptations of 5.1 to look at different ways that directors and actors choose to interpret Lady Macbeth's final appearance.
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
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'Macbeth', what happens to Lady Macbeth at the end of the play?
Q2.In 2.2 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth feels guilty about the regicide. He worries that an "ocean" won't clean the blood from his hands. Lady Macbeth responds with, "a little clears us of this deed".
Q3.In Act 2, after killing King Duncan, what is Macbeth worried he will no longer be able to do?
Q4.Which is the correct definition of foreshadowing?
Q5.Which of these quotation from Lady Macbeth in Act 2, Scene 2 of 'Macbeth' foreshadows her demise in Act 5, Scene 1?
Q6.Why would the first Jacobean audiences of 'Macbeth' consider regicide the worst crime you could commit?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'Macbeth', Macbeth worries about his salvation. What word means the opposite of salvation?
Q2.At the beginning of Act 5 of 'Macbeth', what do the Doctor and Lady Macbeth's servant see Lady Macbeth doing?
Q3.In 5.1 of 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth's language echoes that of Macbeth in 2.2. Which quotation most closely echoes Macbeth's "Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?".
Q4.After the regicide in Act 2 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth worries that he will never sleep again, saying "the sleep".
Q5.In Act 2 of 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth warns Macbeth against giving in to feelings of guilt. She says, "You do unbend your noble strength, to think So of things."
Q6.At the end of 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth is presented as consumed by guilt. Why might Shakespeare have presented her in this way?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Lady Macbeth's feelings of guilt in ‘Macbeth’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Lady Macbeth's feelings of guilt in ‘Macbeth’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.