Will all great Neptune's oceans wash this blood clean from my hand

To remember this quote use the following mnemonic.

Will all the great Neptune's oceans please reveal yourself.

Will all the great Neptune's oceans please reveal yourself

Now take it in turns to wash this blood from my hand.

Now take it in turns to wash this blood from my hand

"Will all great Neptune's oceans wash this blood clean from my hand." Act 2, scene 1, line 63.

After murdering King Duncan, Macbeth looks at his bloody hands and asks if even all the water in the sea ("Neptune's Ocean") could ever clean the blood away. He believes that nothing can remove his guilt because blood is a symbol of his crime. This shows how deeply he is already haunted by what he has done.

Theme Guilt and Conscience - Macbeth is an experienced warrior and is used to killing but he comes back to his chambers badly shaken from murdering his king. Seized by deep revulsion he says the above quote to Lady Macbeth. Macbeth realises that his guilt is so great, it can never be washed away.

Theme of Imagery and Symbolism - The blood symbolises his crime and remorse, while the ocean shows how enormous and permanent his grief feels. Shakespeare used hyperbole to express Macbeths deep horror and regret after murdering King Duncan. The metaphor of Neptune's oceans suggests that no amount of water will ever remove the "stain" of regicide.

Theme of Psychological Conflict - Unlike Lady Macbeth who says "a little water clears us of this deed," Macbeth is already tormented and despairing.

Theme of Foreshadowing - This moment hints at Macbeth's future madness and the idea that he will never find peace again.