Lady Macbeth Now and Then

“What’s done is done.” (3.2.14)
This line comes from a conversation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth after Duncan’s murder. Macbeth is suspicious of Banquo, knowing that he too has heard the prophecies of the witches. The readers know from his soliloquy at the beginning of Act 3 that Banquo is actually suspicious, and although Banquo assures his loyalty to Macbeth during their conversation, there is tension between them when Macbeth invites Banquo to dinner.

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth converse after this, both expressing their unhappiness about what has happened, especially the fleeing of Donalbain and Macduff from Scotland. This particular line comes from Lady Macbeth as she tries to comfort Macbeth, telling him that he should not worry about what is out of his power. She is frustrated herself yet again taking the role of a man tries to console Macbeth.

“What’s done cannot be undone.” (5.1.71)
This line is from Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking. After the murder of Banquo and Fleance’s escape, a dinner is held at Macbeth’s castle. Due to the guilt he feels, Macbeth witnesses Banquo’s ghost, and he is the only one able to see it. This surprises everyone, and Lady Macbeth eventually has to ask all others to leave. She is also shocked and feels guilty by association, although she really did not have much to do with the plan to murder Banquo and Fleance.

After several scenes, a gentlewoman reports Lady Macbeth’s walking in her sleep to a doctor. As they watch her, Lady Macbeth goes on talking to herself, expressing her remorse and shame about everything that has happened since Duncan’s murder. It is evident from her mention of Fife that she knows about the murder of Macduff’s family. This has caused her to feel extremely guilty, again by association. This feeling of guilt is evident by her repeated hand-washing motion and her repeated mention of the word “blood”, a motif throughout the play associated with guiltiness.

In both instances, Lady Macbeth is expressing her guilt and frustration about what has happened. It is apparent that the second line is a stronger of Lady Macbeth’s guilt not only because of the state she is in (sleepwalking) but the line “What is done cannot be undone” entails some kind of regret and hopelessness as opposed to “What is done is done”, ‘so let’s move on.’ The latter line is also a foreshadowing of what is going to befall Lady Macbeth...