Motif Outline

Motif: hands

Theme: guilt

Introduction and Thesis: In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the motif of hands signifies the guilt Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hold due to the murders they committed revealing that they have morals and a conscience that will lead to their defeat.

Topic Sentence 1: Initially, hands represented Macbeth’s humanity, conscience, and guilt of the thought of murdering Duncan.

Evidence 1: “The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be/Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.”(1. 4. 59-60)

Evidence 2: “Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return/To plague th’ inventor. This even-handed justice/Commends th’ ingredience of our poisoned chalice”(1. 7. 9-11)

Evidence 3: “Is this a dagger which I see before me,/The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.”( 2. 1. 41-42)

Topic Sentence 2: After killing Duncan, hands portrayed the guilt Macbeth felt due to the murder he commited.

Evidence 1: “As they had seen me with these hangman’s hands,”(2. 2. 37)

Evidence 2: “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/Clean from my hand?”(2. 2. 75-76)

Topic Sentence 3: Ultimately, to deal with the guilt Macbeth and Lady Macbeth lose their humanity, leading to their deaths.

Evidence 1: “What, will these hands ne’er be clean?”(5. 1. 39)

Evidence 2: “Now does he feel/His secret murders sticking on his hands.” (5. 2. 20)

Evidence 3: “Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen,/Who, as ’tis thought, by self and violent hands,/Took off her life”(5. 8. 79-81)

Conclusion

Behaviors have Consequences

In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, and a brave soldier, receives a prophecy by three witches that he will become Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. When he becomes Thane of Cawdor, his belief in the prophecy, and desire to become king strengthens. The motif of hands, which is used throughout the play, signifies the guilt Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hold due to the murders they committed revealing that they have morals and a conscience that will lead to their defeat.

Initially, hands represented Macbeth’s guilt of the thought of murdering Duncan, the King of Scotland, and the beginning of his loss of humanity. After discovering that Malcolm, Duncan’s eldest son, was to be Prince of Cumberland, Macbeth’s thoughts of murdering Duncan increased. These thoughts disgusted Macbeth, which is portrayed when he says, “The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be/Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see”(1. 4. 59-60). When Macbeth said this, it is clear that he is going to murder Duncan, but he doesn't wish to see himself do it. Not only does this indicate that he is internally conflicted, but it also indicates that he feels guilty for wishing to kill Duncan because he's saying that he's horrified to see when he kills Duncan. He is losing his humanity because he is saying that he is going to turn a blind eye to the murder he is about to commit. Later, when Macbeth is about to murder Duncan, he hallucinates a dagger, and says, “Is this a dagger which I see before me,/The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.”( 2. 1. 41-42). It is clear that Macbeth is starting to lose his humanity when he sees that dagger because his guilt is so strong, that he's starting to imagine things. The guilt is making him feel conflicted internally.

After killing Duncan, hands portrayed the