Things without all remedy should be without regard: what's done is done

Things without all remedy should be without regard: what's done is done

In William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, the character Lady Macbeth utters the famous line, "Things without all remedy should be without regard: what's done is done." This line encapsulates the theme of guilt and the consequences of one's actions in the play.

Lady Macbeth speaks these words after she and her husband have committed regicide by murdering King Duncan. She is trying to convince Macbeth to move on from their crime and not dwell on the consequences. However, this line also reflects Lady Macbeth's own struggle with guilt and remorse over their actions. Despite her attempts to dismiss their crime, she is haunted by the blood on her hands and the consequences of their actions.

The idea that "what's done is done" suggests a fatalistic view of the world, where actions have irreversible consequences and there is no way to undo the past. This theme is prevalent throughout Shakespeare's works, where characters often grapple with the consequences of their actions and the idea of fate and destiny.