A little water clears us of this deed

To remember this quote use the following mnemonic.

A little water clears us of this deed.

"A little water clears us of this deed." Act 2, scene 2, line 70. Spoken by Lady Macbeth right after Macbeth murders King Duncan.

Meaning

• "A little water clears us of this deed." - Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth that washing their hands will remove the blood and symbolically erase their guilt. She believes that once they are physically clean they will also be free from responsibility and safe from suspicion. 

Exam advice 

• Guilt and denial - Lady Macbeth tries to minimise the moral weight of murder. Her belief that water can "clean" them shows her emotional detachment, at least at this point in the play. 

• Foreshadowing - Later she is tormented by guilt, obsessively washing her hands in act 5 ("out, damned spot!"). This shows that guilt cannot be washed away so easily. 

• Contrast with Macbeth - Macbeth is immediately disturbed and overwhelmed by guilt. Lady Macbeth seems colder and more practical, taking charge of the situation. 

• Symbolism of water and blood - Water represents cleaning while blood represents guilt and murder. The idea that water can remove guilt is challenged by later events.