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Hi Mr Salles, I’m a new subscriber but using your articles and YouTube videos I recently scored 26-27/30 on a Macbeth essay, the text I struggle with the most. So I’d just thought I share it for any feedback.

The question was on guilt, the extract was Act 5 Scene 1 - Lady Macbeth sleep walking.

Throughout the tragedy “Macbeth”, William Shakespeare constantly references guilt, its nature and focus constantly shifting. It enacts the role of a moral compass allowing the audience to establish the difference between good and evil - which the lack of guilt comes to represent. Through his intertwining of the motifs of guilt, Shakespeare crafts a complex character arc for Macbeth as well as Lady Macbeth who partake in regicide- a grave sin.

The extract clearly portrays guilt through Lady Macbeth, who uses the motif of blood to portray her guilt. Through her exclamation of “all the perfume of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand” she portrays the weight the metaphorical blood has on her conscience, which entices the idea of guilt. The use of the hyperbole establishes her changed attitudes, as she had previously manipulated Macbeth though phrases such as “a little water clears us of this deed”, a euphemism for the regicide that had not affected her then but seems to now. The description of “perfumes of Arabia” can also connote wanting to be cleansed of sins, such as through religious sacraments such as anointing, which is done with oil. The perfume she mentions may not presents just the fragrance which will give her temporary salvation from the memory but rather her wanting redemption from God through undergoing a holy sacrament such as the anointing, which will rid her of the guilt she harbours due to the regicide plaguing her mind.

The audience at the time would have been aware of the gravity that disruptions to the Great Chain of Being had, which was a direct opposition of God, meaning Shakespeare’s religious allusion was intentional to show Lady Macbeth’s growth and how guilt has impacted her morality. While previously she called on “spirits who tend on mortal thoughts,” she now seeks God, portraying her guilt as a catalyst for her change. The fact she says the statement while sleep walking could also connote that it’s not intentional, while she acted in a way that a likened her to the witches, she is human and therefore a product of God’s creation, so will ultimately seek him out.

However, through her unrest, it’s clear that she has strayed too far from God due to her aid in Duncan’s regicide. Perhaps Shakespeare attempts to reinforce his allegiance to the Great Chain of Being and the divine right of kings, portraying it as God’s will. Following the gun powder plot, Shakespeare’s loyalty was questioned, allowing the assumption that his play was an ode to King James, not only as a form of flattery but also to reinstate to others that he criticised those who strayed from social norms, portraying their suffering through guilt and moral decline.

Earlier in the play, guilt is also portrayed through Macbeth’s initial reaction to committing regicide, when he begins to hallucinate, stating “is that a dagger I see before me?” The use of the rhetorical question makes it seem as those his thoughts are exposed, showing vulnerability. Possibly Shakespeare comments on Macbeth feeling lost, due to having committed a grave sin and in turn straying from God, who acted as a moral compass for him previously. The use of this highlights to the audience the impact that God has on morality. And how interacting with the supernatural has caused Macbeth to lose that, in turn following through with this malicious plan, an insidious plot of the Witches who plant the seeds for Macbeth’s ambition.

However, religious allusions are constantly threading into the play, such as when Macbeth states that Duncan is “silver laced golden blood”. At face value the use of “silver” and “gold”, which are precious metals, can connote his value to the nation while also portraying him as pure, due to the unreactive nature of the metals. The comparison of them together can highlight the difference in value that Macbeth and Duncan had as rulers, with Duncan portrayed by the more expensive metal “gold”.

Alternatively it can be interpreted as alluding to the betrayal of Jesus, who Judas betrayed for “silver” coins. England being a religious country would have realised the association, leading to Macbeth indirectly admitting the betrayal of not only Duncan, but also God. He betrayed the king who considered him his “kinsman” for power. His realisation portrays his indirect guilt, which seems to disappear as he turns more power hungry, following his id rather than his superego. Once he strays from God, he becomes primal and instinctive, showcasing to the audience that he exhibits animal like behaviour, indicating that he has rejected God, becoming like the animals who do not posses a conscience and act on instinct, portraying his moral decline through the fact he lacks guilt

Furthermore, Macbeth’s initial lack of guilt when killing the “traitor” Macdonwald, portrays that morality, and in turn guilt, is dictated by societal norms. When defending his country, Macbeth sees the killing of Macdonwald as necessary and as an honour. Despite the brutal violence of “unseamed him from the nave to his chops”, he’s still honoured as “Brave Macbeth”.

This is similar to how Macduff is honoured when killing Macbeth- the lack of guilt from both men representing that guilt is fueled by the superego. This highlights how Scottish warrior culture had a skewed sense of morality, making susceptibility to violence and manipulation, such as by the Witches and Lady Macbeth, more likely due to a lack of stability in beliefs.

The cyclic structure employed by Shakespeare also dictates that this is continuous, highlighting that the lack of guilt these men feel is dictated by society and leads to corruption due to their increased hubris, which in many cases is their hamartia. Perhaps this is Shakespeare’s comment on society, illustrating that the values they hold are transient and do not hold any value. Through this it can be interpreted that Shakespeare implores the audience to use their conscience as a moral guide rather than other influence, which through the use of Scottish warrior culture shows that guilt is subjective.

Perhaps Shakespeare also aims to educate society on the fact that violence breeds more violence. Such as shown through Macbeth committing regicide which lead to him experiencing the same thing, a warning to King James, that his violence towards the traitors of the gunpowder plot will result in increased violence towards him.

Ultimately, guilt is presented as subjective, adapting to suit the morality of the characters as they progress through the play. The tragedy comes to represent the effects of the supernatural, portraying how they impact the guilt that’s felt by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who throughout the play take many forms. He shows that power is transient and that righteousness ultimately prevails. Various religious references allow the audience to learn a lesson from the mistakes of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

I’ve had to make a few grammatical changes to the essay which is still, in places, confusing. However, I can see how an examiner could give this 27 marks, like Amelia’s teacher did.

I don’t have time to mark this, but Tilf.io will do it instantly.

The final mark is still under development. I’m much more interested in the feedback on how to improve.

Throughout the tragedy “Macbeth”, William Shakespeare constantly references guilt, its nature and focus constantly shifting. It enacts the role of a moral compass allowing the audience to establish the difference between good and evil - which the lack of guilt comes to represent. Through his intertwining of the motifs of guilt, Shakespeare crafts a complex character arc for Macbeth as well as Lady Macbeth who partake in regicide- a grave sin.

This is a strong opening paragraph that establishes the theme of guilt in 'Macbeth' and its role as a moral compass. You've effectively introduced the concept of regicide and its significance within the play.

At the top of the level, consider exploring the contrast between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's experiences of guilt in more depth to enhance your analysis.

The extract clearly portrays guilt through Lady Macbeth, who uses the motif of blood to portray her guilt. Through her exclamation of “all the perfume of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand” she portrays the weight the metaphorical blood has on her conscience, which entices the idea of guilt. The use of the hyperbole establishes her changed attitudes, as she had previously manipulated Macbeth though phrases such as “a little water clears us of this deed”, a euphemism for the regicide that had not affected her then but seems to now. The description of “perfumes of Arabia” can also connote wanting to be cleansed of sins, such as through religious sacraments such as anointing, which is done with oil. The perfume she mentions may not presents just the fragrance which will give her temporary salvation from the memory but rather her wanting redemption from God through undergoing a holy sacrament such as the anointing, which will rid her of the guilt she harbours due to the regicide plaguing her mind.

Your analysis of Lady Macbeth's guilt using the motif of blood is insightful, and you've made a good connection to religious symbolism.

To improve, try to link back to the question by discussing how Shakespeare explores guilt through these motifs, rather than just describing them.

The audience at the time would have been aware of the gravity that disruptions to the Great Chain of Being had, which was a direct opposition of God, meaning Shakespeare’s religious allusion was intentional to show Lady Macbeth’s growth and how guilt has impacted her morality. While previously she called on “spirits who tend on mortal thoughts,” she now seeks God, portraying her guilt as a catalyst for her change. The fact she says the statement while sleep walking could also connote that it’s not intentional, while she acted in a way that a likened her to the witches, she is human and therefore a product of God’s creation, so will ultimately seek him out.

You've provided a thoughtful consideration of the historical context and its impact on the audience's understanding of guilt.

However, aim to integrate this analysis more seamlessly with the exploration of guilt in the play to strengthen the connection to the question. (My note - Tilf.io doesn’t understand the last sentence of this paragraph - neither do I),

However, through her unrest, it’s clear that she has strayed too far from God due to her aid in Duncan’s regicide. Perhaps Shakespeare attempts to reinforce his allegiance to the Great Chain of Being and the divine right of kings, portraying it as God’s will. Following the gun powder plot, Shakespeare’s loyalty was questioned, allowing the assumption that his play was an ode to King James, not only as a form of flattery but also to reinstate to others that he criticised those who strayed from social norms, portraying their suffering through guilt and moral decline.

This paragraph offers a clear understanding of the thematic implications of guilt and its relation to the divine right of kings.

To reach a higher level, consider discussing how Shakespeare's portrayal of guilt serves to explore broader themes within the play, such as ambition and power.

Earlier in the play, guilt is also portrayed through Macbeth’s initial reaction to committing regicide, when he begins to hallucinate, stating “is that a dagger I see before me?” The use of the rhetorical question makes it seem as those his thoughts are exposed, showing vulnerability. Possibly Shakespeare comments on Macbeth feeling lost, due to having committed a grave sin and in turn straying from God, who acted as a moral compass for him previously. The use of this highlights to the audience the impact that God has on morality. And how interacting with the supernatural has caused Macbeth to lose that, in turn following through with this malicious plan, an insidious plot of the Witches who plant the seeds for Macbeth’s ambition.

Your examination of Macbeth's hallucination and its connection to guilt is well done.

Try to delve deeper into how this moment reflects the play's overall exploration of guilt and its consequences for Macbeth's character development.

However, religious allusions are constantly threading into the play, such as when Macbeth states that Duncan is “silver laced golden blood”. At face value the use of “silver” and “gold”, which are precious metals, can connote his value to the nation while also portraying him as pure, due to the unreactive nature of the metals. The comparison of them together can highlight the difference in value that Macbeth and Duncan had as rulers, with Duncan portrayed by the more expensive metal “gold”.

The religious allusions in your analysis are effective, but the connection to the theme of guilt could be made clearer.

Focus on how these allusions contribute to Shakespeare's exploration of guilt and its impact on Macbeth's psyche.

Alternatively it can be interpreted as alluding to the betrayal of Jesus, who Judas betrayed for “silver” coins. England being a religious country would have realised the association, leading to Macbeth indirectly admitting the betrayal of not only Duncan, but also God. He betrayed the king who considered him his “kinsman” for power. His realisation portrays his indirect guilt, which seems to disappear as he turns more power hungry, following his id rather than his superego. Once he strays from God, he becomes primal and instinctive, showcasing to the audience that he exhibits animal like behaviour, indicating that he has rejected God, becoming like the animals who do not posses a conscience and act on instinct, portraying his moral decline through the fact he lacks guilt

You've identified Macbeth's changing perception of guilt effectively.

Enhance your response by discussing how this evolution in his character reflects the play's broader themes and Shakespeare's exploration of guilt.

Furthermore, Macbeth’s initial lack of guilt when killing the “traitor” Macdonwald, portrays that morality, and in turn guilt, is dictated by societal norms. When defending his country, Macbeth sees the killing of Macdonwald as necessary and as an honour. Despite the brutal violence of “unseamed him from the nave to his chops”, he’s still honoured as “Brave Macbeth”.

This paragraph shows an understanding of how societal norms influence perceptions of guilt.

To improve, consider how Shakespeare uses these norms to explore the theme of guilt in a more nuanced way. (My note - if Tilf gives me a bit of advice I don’t understand or is vague, I simply ignore it - this is one such).

This is similar to how Macduff is honoured when killing Macbeth- the lack of guilt from both men representing that guilt is fueled by the superego. This highlights how Scottish warrior culture had a skewed sense of morality, making susceptibility to violence and manipulation, such as by the Witches and Lady Macbeth, more likely due to a lack of stability in beliefs.

Your discussion of the cyclic structure and its relation to guilt is a good point.

Further develop this idea by examining how Shakespeare uses this structure to comment on the nature of guilt and its societal implications.

The cyclic structure employed by Shakespeare also dictates that this is continuous, highlighting that the lack of guilt these men feel is dictated by society and leads to corruption due to their increased hubris, which in many cases is their hamartia. Perhaps this is Shakespeare’s comment on society, illustrating that the values they hold are transient and do not hold any value. Through this it can be interpreted that Shakespeare implores the audience to use their conscience as a moral guide rather than other influence, which through the use of Scottish warrior culture shows that guilt is subjective.

The connection between violence and guilt is an interesting point.

Expand on this by discussing how Shakespeare uses the characters' experiences to explore the cyclical nature of violence and guilt.

Perhaps Shakespeare also aims to educate society on the fact that violence breeds more violence. Such as shown through Macbeth committing regicide which lead to him experiencing the same thing, a warning to King James, that his violence towards the traitors of the gunpowder plot will result in increased violence towards him.

In your conclusion, you've summarized the subjective nature of guilt in the play.

To enhance your conclusion, reflect on how Shakespeare's exploration of guilt contributes to the play's tragic impact and the lessons it imparts to the audience.

Mark: 21 - 24 (this is a beta feature and mark may not be very accurate)

My Note: If 27 is the correct mark from a senior examiner, 24 would still be allowed by another examiner.

Overall feedback: Your essay demonstrates a thoughtful and developed consideration of the theme of guilt in 'Macbeth'. You have used a range of references effectively and shown clear understanding of the text and its context. To further improve, ensure that your analysis consistently links back to the question, exploring how Shakespeare uses guilt to develop characters and themes throughout the play. Additionally, consider the implications of guilt on the play's structure and the audience's perception.

What went well: You have effectively used textual references to support your interpretations and have shown a good understanding of the historical and religious context of the play. Your analysis of the characters' experiences of guilt is detailed and well-explained.

Even better if: To achieve a higher level, ensure that your analysis is consistently focused on the question, exploring the theme of guilt in relation to the play's broader themes and character development. Additionally, consider the structural elements of the play and how they reinforce the exploration of guilt.

I’ve divided some of Amelia’s longer paragraphs to make more paragraphs.

This means Tilf.io can give more specific feedback. I don’t disagree with any of the feedback it gives. The final Even Better If is especially helpful.

However, it does mean that you have to pick and choose which feedback is most useful to you. Looking at the final EBI is a great way to do this: which small changes will lead to this big change?

If you don’t want so much feedback, just paste in your work using fewer paragraph breaks.

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