The Importance of Guilt in Macbeth Throughout the story, guilt motivates Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to a large extent. Macbeth was a kind and refined nobleman of King Duncan. But one day his benevolence and patronage towards the king changed. He had met the three witches who had revealed the three prophecies. The first prophecy was that Macbeth would become lord of Cawdor. The second prophecy is that he will become the king in the future. The third was that Banquo's sons will also become kings in the future (Banquo is a good friend of Macbeth). Macbeth has taken his future into his own hands. Lady Macbeth was the very one who encouraged and persuaded Macbeth to face the horrible circumstances. Guilt plays a different role in couples on certain occasions. Guilt surrounds Macbeth the night he kills King Duncan. He returned to his wife with a horrified look on his face. “This is a sad sight” (Act 2 scene 2 line 20), he told her. . “A senseless thought, indeed an unpleasant sight,” Lady Macbeth was stunned by his remark. He had no guilt at that moment. He couldn't believe what he had done, what he had gotten himself into. The king's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, were in the next room. “There is one who laughed in his sleep, and the other shouted, ‘Murder!’ Which woke each other up.” I stopped and listened to them. But they said their prayers and invited them to sleep again. But why couldn't I say "Amen"? I needed blessings more, and an "Amen" stuck in my throat. the moment he sends assassins to kill Banquo, his old friend had no choice but to get rid of Banquo. Banquo had witnessed the three witches and the prophecies that one day his son would be king make them kings, the seeds of Banquo king" (Act 3 scene 1 line 70). For Macbeth to be safe is to kill Banquo. Banquo can assume what happened and tell it to the people of Scotland. 'For the matter of Banquo I have filed my mind ; for them I slew the gracious Duncan; Place grudges in the vessel of my peace just for them, and my eternal jewel".