Final answer:
The use of hands in literature often symbolizes a range of emotions and actions, including guilt. Characters feel the weight of their actions through their hands, which becomes a metaphor for their internal struggles and moral conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of guilt and the manifestation of internal conflict expressed through the symbolism of hands is a recurring literary theme. In the excerpts provided, hands are used to convey a multitude of emotions and actions, including guilt, powerlessness, strength, and violence.
For instance, in one scenario, a character struggles with the guilt of actions past, symbolized by the weight felt in the hands. In another, a character's hand is tied to the act of murder, with the resultant guilt and moral questioning that ensues. The use of hands as a motif helps deepen character development and underscores the psychological struggles faced by the characters.
The guilt of one's actions often weighs heavily on the body and mind, and authors frequently employ physical symbols—such as hands—to illustrate this internal turmoil. Characters may view their hands as complicit in their wrongdoing or as bearers of their fate. Through these visceral representations, readers gain insight into the characters' internal moral debates and their struggles with conscience and redemption.