Lady Macbeth’s conscience gradually develops a cloud of guilt, which grows more menacing with the deeds she aids her husband in committing. After placing the daggers with the watchmen, she excuses herself for not killing Duncan by claiming that he resembled her father as he slept. This is the commencement of the unraveling of human personality and Lady Macbeth’s conscience.
As Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking, she is attempting to rid her hands of invisible blood. The theme of blood is used much throughout the play. When King Duncan was murdered, it was said by Macbeth,
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.
Lady Macbeth then replied,
My hands are of your colour; but I shame
To wear a heart so white. I hear a knocking
At the south entry: retire we to our chamber;
A little water clears us of this deed:
How easy is it, then!
Evidently, this statement is false. Lady Macbeth’s conscience is trying to rid itself of the overwhelming weight of the guilt of the numerous murders that have been committed out of greed, by pushing Lady Macbeth to wash her hands repeatedly. The blood is the evidence that shows what Lady Macbeth has done. It is symbolic of the guilt she feels for murdering those who have threatened Macbeth’s chances at the throne. Therefore, a little water could not take on the huge task of clearing Lady Macbeth of all of her evil deeds.
Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking is only an additional event to add to the list of perturbations in nature. The chain of being has been colossally disturbed throughout the course of the play, with the murders of King Duncan, the guards, Banquo, and the entire Macduff household.
“The night has been unruly: where we lay,
Our chimneys were blown down; and, as they say,
Lamentings heard i' the air; strange screams of death,
And prophesying with accents terrible
Of dire combustion and confused events
New hatch'd to the woeful time: the obscure bird
Clamour'd the livelong night: some say, the earth
Was feverous and did shake.” (Act II, Scene III)
In conclusion, Lady Macbeth's character gradually disintegrates through a false portrayal of unyielding strength, which leads to the immense weight of her guilt, and ultimately, her death.
