Guilt is an emotion felt by all people after doing something they know is morally wrong. This emotion can present itself at various levels and, depending on the intensity of the feeling, can change a person's character. The theme of guilt in Macbeth is described and represented through the two main characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Guilt affects how these characters act in response to certain situations and problems and will ultimately lead to their deaths. Shakespeare writes this play as if to show how the effects of guilt transform Macbeth from a war hero to a hated tyrant, and consequently Lady Macbeth's downward spiral into madness. In the play “Macbeth” the characters are examples of how guilt can affect the average human being. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth handle the guilt of killing Duncan in different ways, so a person who may want to understand more about the mindset of suicide victims or those who are struggling with guilt can use these characters as a source of reference. Understanding the effects of guilt on the characters in “Macbeth” can illuminate how people today deal with guilt in their lives. Guilt is a bad feeling caused by knowing or thinking that you have done something bad or morally wrong. Every person will feel or have felt guilty of some action at some time in their life. It is a natural feeling that our moral conscience tells us that what we have done is wrong. Guilt can be felt even if a person is not in any kind of trouble. It is a personal feeling within oneself. Overcoming this feeling and being able to move forward must also be addressed mentally within oneself. Often people are unable to overcome this feeling on their own and need intervention... middle of paper... stimulated by an external source or a desire to achieve something. The second way to deal with the problem of guilt is through professional help. This intervention with outside help can benefit people who do not possess the mental strength to overcome guilt on their own, such as Lady Macbeth. This practice could potentially save lives as it could prevent people from taking their own lives. The characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were both affected by guilt in different ways. These characters knew that the crime they committed was morally wrong and that it was unnecessary. This thought sinks them both even deeper into the guilt that causes their deaths at the end of the show. People dealing with guilt in their lives today may be able to learn from these characters to overcome their guilt through mental strength or professional help.