In the extract Shakespeare presents the theme of guilt via the rapid deterioration of Lady Macbeths mental state due to the heinous atrocities she has committed and the blatant disregard for any remorse for her actions although she cannot offset the compounding guilt, which eventually leads to her madness. "Out, damned spot!" - the recurring theme of blood throughout the play represents notions of guilt and violence, in this the metaphor depicts the cohesive properties of blood, representing the blight and internal torture of Lady Macbeths conscience which is impossible to remove, caused by the morally disgusting actions she has committed and the guilt for them, leading to paranoia and hallucinations. "When none can call our power to account" - represents Lady Macbeths infatuation with possessing authority and inherent greed, stopping at nothing to achieve her goals but also in the process destroying her humanity irreparably which leads to her deforming into a husk of her former self and her eventual suicide. "All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this hand" - the hyperbolic sentence depicting Lady Macbeths reluctant acknowledgment of her moral damnation and beginning realisation of the despicable nature of the murder she has coerced in, to which there is no redemption. Finally through the repetition of; "To bed" - represents the cyclical cycle of suffering she has trapped herself in, unable to find peace and her desperate desire to erase the memory of Duncans murder as sleep is associated with refreshment although in reality nothing can clean her of the monstrous deeds and we as a reader almost feel sorry to see her pitiful state. "Theres knocking at the gate" has biblical connotations with judgement day and the calling of the gatekeeper of hell, representing the brutal punishment that awaits Lady Macbeth and how the notion of her eternal torture for her sins tortures her even while she draws breath. Shakespeare wishes to depict to the reader the inevitability of "karma" or retribution for one actions and the severe punishments for committing sins as severe as murder. How even those who steel themselves against it and seem to embrace the corruption will eventually rot away in agony. A warning to the reader of the severe repercussions of the act of killing, especially regicide which was regarded an act against god and of utmost severity. In the play as a whole Shakespeare depicts the theme of guilt via the corruption of Macbeth and also his partial madness, but contrasting from Lady Macbeth it drives him further down the path of darkness to commit more monstrosities all the while eating at him from the inside out. "Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle turned towards my hand" - the imagery and soliloquy shows his growing turmoil and the effect of temptation acting on Macbeth, blurring the line between reality and hallucination as he contemplates the murder, the two conflicting sides of his growing ambition against loyalty and perceived guilt for plotting against his king. Setting him up as a complex character and tragic hero to which the audience can sympathise against his downfall. "Out, out brief candle, life is but a walking shadow" The nihilistic metaphoric language conveys how the crushing weight of his actions has robbed him of all purpose in life but the engraved lust for power, his outlook that life is futile and his despair but could also be perceived as an excuse for his actions as if trying to justify them as inevitable and influenced by external forces. As if he is a puppet of fate when his heinous deeds are as much his own as anybody else's. "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls over the other" The metaphor depicting his acknowledgment of his ambitions probable route to his downfall and the ever growing stack of his crimes which the guilt is impossible to ignore but still he chooses to pursue his blood soaked ideal. Again depicting Macbeth as twisted and evilly distorted but not inherently evil and somewhat morally aware. Shakespeare has used Macbeth to depict the malicious contortion that guilt has on one's persona and how refusal to accept guilt and work to remedy it will again as shown in Lady Macbeth lead to eventual demise. He also wishes to invoke sympathy for Macbeth who is an intricately layered character and a complex clockwork which cannot be labelled as "good" or "bad". Possibly suggesting the influence of external factors such as the witches in his downfall and warning against the dark instruments that manipulate fate. Finally Shakespeare utilise Macduff as a foil character who feels guilt for the pitiful state of his country and allowing Macbeth to run rampant, even though he is not directly liable for these unfortunate events. Depicting him as a stark contrast to Macbeth, pure and righteous untainted by ambition or greed and the embodiment of kingly ideals. "O Scotland, Scotland!" the repetition and emotional outburst reveals Macduff's deep sorrow and partial guilt for the suffering of his homeland, acting as a window into conveying his personal grief and also a call to action for Scotlands redemption and Macbeths overthrowing. "I must also feel it as a man" represents Macduffs emotional maturity and acceptance of reality, unlike Macbeth who denounces the repercussions of his actions and the guilt associated, highlighting Macduff's humanity and also Macbeths gradually increasing lack. Shakespeare has used Macduff to serve as an idealistic example for what the audience should strive to embody and also as a symbol of justice and restoration of order, a sort of beacon of hope against the tyranny of Macbeth and the deliverer of the karmic retribution as a result of Macbeths unchecked heinous acts. Again warning the audience against the inevitable divine repercussions to ones grave acts.