Macbeth demonstrates a moral conscience when he states: "We will go no further in this matter", but he ultimately pretends to be unconscious of his morals ( Shakespeare I. vii. 34). According to Coursen, “as he gets closer to Duncan's murder, his awareness of the heinous nature of the crime becomes clearer” (Coursen 379). His "awareness of the heinous nature of the crime" is evident before and after Duncan's murder, as he is aware of the consequences and possible outcomes of the crime. However, he becomes preoccupied with his ambition and the coercion of Lady Macbeth, giving in to Duncan's murder and, perhaps, his own downfall. Therefore, Lady Macbeth is not the main culprit since Macbeth ignored her