Macbeth is haunted by guilt from both the recurring symbol of blood and also the ghost of Banquo. In the play, Macbeth by Shakespeare blood is continuously used to represent Macbeth’s guilt both metaphorically and literally, in act 2 scene 2 after killing Duncan Macbeth feels as if the blood has left a permanent stain on his hands ‘will all great Neptune’s oceans wash this blood clean from my hands? No this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine’ Macbeth is referring to both the physical blood on his hands but also to his guilt he feels over the murder of the King, even though Lady Macbeth says the blood can just be washed away Macbeth’s words show he feels as if the consequences of his actions will be harder to hide than just washing away the physical blood. Macbeth’s guilt over his actions not only from killing Duncan but also from the murder of Banquo was so strong that he could not tell what is a vision and what is real, When ‘seeing’ the ghost of Banquo sitting as the table Macbeth tried to reassure himself that Banquo is truly dead “thy bones are marrow-less, thy blood is cold, thou hast no speculation in those eyes” the appearance of Banquo’s ghost is like a manifestation of Macbeth’s guilt that he feels over his past actions in his goal to secure the crown.