Macbeth's Guilt There is a sense of guilt throughout the play that motivates Macbeth. This guilt drives Lady Macbeth to madness, which ultimately results in Lady Macbeth's death. Throughout the play Macbeth's actions do no good to his conscience and his inheritance to the throne. There were several occasions where Macbeth experienced his guilt for the crimes he committed and the feeling that he would be overthrown. After Macbeth kills King Duncan, he feels guilty for committing this crime. Throughout the play there are several moments in which Macbeth is guilty of his crimes, as is his wife, after killing Duncan. Macbeth says: I thought I heard a voice cry: Sleep no more! Macbeth kills sleep... (act 2, scene 2) to Lady Macbeth after killing Duncan. As soon as he hears this, you tell him that Macbeth is starting to feel guilty about the horrible act he committed. I won't go anymore. I'm afraid to think about what I've done. I don't dare watch it again. (act 2, scene2)Macbeth says this during the conversation between him and Lady Macbeth after Macbeth kills Duncan. At this point in the play Lady Macbeth still has no sense of guilt for the crimes she has been a part of. The second appearance in which Macbeth feels guilty is in scene one of the third act. The scene begins with Macbeth talking to Banquo. Macbeth is planning to kill Banquo because he fears that Banquo is becoming rather suspicious. Then Macbeth plans to kill Banquo, while Banquo goes out for his night ride with his son Fleance. Because of this Macbeth begins to regain the guilt of killing Duncan. For them I slew gracious Duncan, I put grudges in the vessel of my peace... (Act 3, Scene 1) Macbeth states this before ordering Banquo's death. At this point Macbeth appears to be in quicksand; The more he tries to get out the deeper he falls. Lady Macbeth has finally reached the edge of her sanity, she starts doing some really strange things at night. I saw her get out of bed, throw her nightgown over her, open the closet, take a sheet of paper, fold it, write on it, read it, then seal it and go back to bed again; yet all this in the fastest way