Macbeth Act V- Light vs Dark and Visioins

Lady Macbeth only has terrors and nightmares about the murder of Duncan (guilty conscious at night (during darkness).

Gentlewoman: "Why, it stood by her. She has light by her continually. 'Tis her command." (p82 L25) When Lady Macbeth starts going crazy, she asks to always have a light (candle) by her bed to hopefully protect herself against the evil forces.

Macbeth: " [...] And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!"

Lady Macbeth has a light that has been extinguished by her death. The candle is a metaphor for her short life and her sudden death.

Lady Macbeth: “Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One: two: why, then ‘tis time to do ‘t. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our pow’r to accompt? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” (p.82 L38)

Lady Macbeth has hallucinations and sleep terrors. She believes there is blood on her hands from the murders she has helped plan. It is a symbol of her guilty conscious.