Why does Macbeth feel more remorse than lady Macbeth?

Answer 1

There is no indication in Shakespeare's play that Lady Macbeth was murdered. Malcolm suggests that she committed suicide. One could, perhaps, imagine that Macbeth, worried that his wife was going to spill the beans, arranged to have her killed along with all the others, and that Macbeth's line "she should have died hereafter" meant that he had actually arranged for the murder to take place later. It's in some ways an interesting reading, but it is not in any way a standard one, and not one which has textual support.

Answer 2

Macbeth was sorry for his wife's death, for many reasons. She hadn't been well, and was suffering great anguish from all the murders to get and keep the throne. She hadn't been treatable by any doctor. To Macbeth's way of thinking, she died unexpectedly, before her time. Macbeth felt that life was short, pointless, and full of anger and much to and fro that accomplished nothing. And all of these drawbacks were made all the worse by Lady Macbeth leaving the earth so suddenly, so prematurely, so painfully, and so alone without him.

Answer 3

Macbeth was distressed after King Duncan's death, because he had reservations before, during, and immediately after the murder. For example, when he learned of his elevation to Thane of Cawdor, he asked himself if he had to do something, or if his becoming king would happen naturally [Act 1 Scene 3 Lines 143-144]. At Inverness Castle, Macbeth saw the only reason for shedding blood to be his own ambition [Act 1 Scene 7 Line 27]. At the last minute, he told his wife that he didn't want to go through with the murder [Act 1 Scene 7 Line 31]. And afterwards he admitted fearing to see the corpse or even to think of what he had done [Act 2 Scene 2 Line 51-52]. So why did Macbeth do something that he wasn't 100% in favor of doing? It was the influence of his and his wife's ambitions, and of the witches' predictions. The witches made him feel that the title of king was every much his by right, and by destiny, as were the thanely titles of Glamis and Cawdor.

Answer 4

Macbeth feels more remorse than Lady Macbeth because he is the one who actively chooses to commit the murders, while Lady Macbeth only encourages him. Additionally, Macbeth is haunted by guilt and visions of his crimes, leading to his mental deterioration. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, is able to suppress her guilt initially but eventually succumbs to madness as well.