Does being king predispose one to insanity? Macbeth by William Shakespeare tells the story of a seemingly innocent warrior of Scotland who, once receiving a little bit of power, went down a rabbit hole of insanity ultimately ending in his reign of terror over Scotland. Macbeth shows signs of insanity and a power trip from the very beginning when he learns of his becoming of Thane of Cawdor and future kingship, in his paranoia, and guilt. The first event leading up to his insanity of Macbeth comes in scene three, where he is told by the Witches that he shall become the Thane of Cawdor and king afterwards (Shakespeare 1.3.49-50). When Macbeth is told of his new position as Thane of Cawdor after the execution of the previous Thane, he begins to …show more content…
Macbeth’s paranoia is exemplified in Act II Scene I when he sees a non-existent dagger, representing that he was both nervous and hesitant to murder King Duncan (Shakespeare 2.1.32-35). Macbeth’s paranoia is shown again after King Duncan was slain. After the killing of Duncan, Macbeth experiences a strong sense of paranoia because he is afraid that his misdeeds will be revealed to everyone. Furthermore, Macbeth is guided by paranoia to murder his friend Banquo when Banquo suspects Macbeth fulfilled the prophecies of the witches through foul play. Furthermore, in Act 2 Scene 2, Macbeth states, “Methought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more!/Macbeth does murder sleep!’ - the innocent sleep.” (Shakespeare 2.2.33-34). Macbeth’s paranoia is once again shown when during the banquet he sees the ghost of his friend Banquo after he is informed that Banquo has been killed and his son, Fleance, has escaped. Banquo’s ghost represents Macbeth’s paranoia because his conscience is active and while on the surface he may seem unremorseful for the killings, deep inside he feels deeply guilty (Shakespeare …show more content…
Similar to its impact on paranoia, the ghost of Banquo is an even better representation of his guilt and how his outward appearance and true feelings clash. Furthermore, Macbeth’s guilt is shown both before and after killing Duncan. When he kills Duncan, he says, “But wherefore could I not pronounce ‘amen’?/I had most need of blessing, and ‘amen’/Stuck in my throat,” which symbolizes that since he has gained the powers of evil by way of murder, he cannot say “amen” (Shakespeare 2.2.31-32). However, it is possible that after the apparition tells Macbeth that he can not be killed by a man born of a woman, the guilt at least somewhat passed due to his feeling of immortality (Shakespeare
Because of this he also killed the servants. When told of Banquo's death he is seemingly delighted but upon return he sees Banquo's ghost. Macbeth’s repressed guilt shows up as a ghost that steals his seat from him. He tells him to leave and cease bothering him, representing how he doesn't want to feel guilty but the ghost doesn't leave until Lady Macbeth takes him out of the room. Macbeth’s guilt pressures him to face consequences and shows his lack of
With the initial murder of King Duncan, Macbeth was incredibly guilty even before the murder but seemed to calm down a bit after actually killing Duncan. With the second murder, that being Banquo, Macbeth killed him out of fear, yet when he saw Banquo’s ghost he was furious and wanted nothing to do with him. Banquo was, at one point, Macbeth’s closest friend, yet Macbeth gave up that relationship simply because he wanted to ensure he would stay in power. After this, Macbeth has many other people killed, including Macduff’s wife and child. When Macbeth is finally confronted about this killing by Macduff, Macbeth does not care in the slightest.
Proceeding with the crime, Macbeth later receives the news that only Banquo has been killed. Macbeth’s paranoia, guilt, and shame manifest into an envisionment of Banquo’s ghost at Inverness. Upon Macbeth seeing the ghost, Lady Macbeth attempts to calm him down, to which he
The next quote is from Act 2, Scene 2, Line 71, “To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself.” shows the reader how he would rather not let his mind fathom the fact that he killed someone. The second instance of his guilt was when he saw Banquo's ghost at the banquet in Act 3, Scene 4, and said “If charnel houses and our graves must send those that we bury back, our monuments shall be mawes of kites.” This hallucination causes Macbeth to become even more paranoid and leads to him lashing out at Lady Macbeth for not seeing the ghost. He says, “When now I think you can behold such sights, and keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, when mine is blanched with fear.”
First Macbeth felt guilty after killing duncan. “I'll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on't again I dare not”(Shakespeare 2.2 50). Macbeth talks about how he is afraid to think about what he has done meaning he feels guilty about the murder. Next Macbeth felt guilty after killing Banquo.
(Act2:1:37-39). The imagery used of a brain physically over-heating accentuates the idea that Macbeth is beginning to lose his sanity as his brain can no longer function accordingly due to all the incalescence. Not only does the thought of killing Duncan cause Macbeth to hallucinate but also after having ordered the murder of Banquo, his guilt stricken conscience causes him to see Banquo 's ghost. No one else at the banquet can see the ghost which emphasizes that Macbeth is losing his sanity. Macbeth asks "Which of you have done this" (Act3:4:53) after seeing Banquo 's ghost because he believes one of the guests to be playing a prank on him as he is not aware that his own mind is hallucinating due to all the remorse.
Macbeth’s guilt and battle with mental illness begins early within the play: right after the murder of King Duncan. Macbeth, once a loyal sergeant in Duncan’s army, has killed the king in order to possess the throne of Scotland. This act of such extreme measures begins Macbeth’s descent into madness and insomnia. Immediately after the murder of Duncan, Macbeth says, “Methought I heard a voice cry, ‘Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep.”
It is not as much in the beginning, but later on it is very noticeable. Macbeth unlike others is very affected by his mental deterioration, causing him act very differently in a not so good way. It is unfortunate that he could not control himself, because in the end, all did not go well. It is very likely that the cause of Macbeth’s death was due to his mental deterioration. Overall, it should be taught not to let mental unstableness control
(2.2.33-41). The motif of guilt is present because Macbeth is haunted by his murdering Duncan. He feels remorseful for committing such a crime and he tells himself that he will not be able to sleep anymore because of his guilt. This conveys the theme because with Macbeth not confessing to his crime, the guilt stays and leads to his downfall. When Macbeth hosts a dinner party at his castle, he sees Banquo’s ghost and he starts to talk to it.
21-22). Because the murderers failed to kill Banquo's son, it’s possible that the witches' saying may still come true. Because of Macbeth's extreme drive for power it causes him to go too far and causes problems for him mentally. Since he sought out to kill Banquo, during the dinner, he continues to hallucinate the ghost of Banquo sitting among them which really disturbs him as he tries to get Banquo's ghost to go away by saying “Avaunt, and quit my
The witches influence Macbeth’s decisions, however he is still responsible for his actions. The witches meet up and deliver the news of Macbeth being represented as the future Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. Macbeth, doubting if it's true, believes in their prophecies after Banquo delivers the report that Macbeth has just been named the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth reacts, “Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion.”
Furthermore, the murder of Banquo led Macbeth to destruction. Later in the play, Macbeth was troubled by the Banquo’s ghost. Macbeth acts out of desperation to get rid of Banquo’s ghost (III, iv, 82-7). Here, it shows Macbeth’s destruction of mind, which is fuelled by his fear and guilt. Eventually, Macbeth’s
At the beginning of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ the protagonist Macbeth is described as ‘brave’, ‘noble’ and ‘honourable’, however Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeths desire for power consumes them. Macbeth’s ambition overrides his conscience and transformed his greatest strength into his greatest weakness. Macbeth’s inability to resist temptations that led him to be greedy for power, Macbeth’s easily manipulative nature which allowed his mind to be swayed, Macbeth having no self control and his excessive pride was what allowed him to renew his previously honourable and celebrated title into one of an evil ‘tyrant’. Macbeth is led by the prophecies of the witches after they foretell he will become the Thane of Cawdor. Not only the witches, but also his wife easily manipulate Macbeth as she attacks his manhood in order to provoke him to act on his desires.
Macbeth and Madness Imagine the President of the United States admitting to having mental instability. This scenario may rattle some, but it clearly plays out in William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth. The play’s title character uses violence to maintain power but gradually plummets into mental illness. Before Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, conspire to murder his cousin Duncan, the King of Scotland, in order to attain authority, Macbeth foreshadows the possible repercussions; afterward, he experiences an immediate sense of remorse. The subsequent murder of a friend displays his progressive unsteadiness, but the massacre of an entire family demonstrates his transformation from instability to deviance.
I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on 't again I dare not.” (Act II, sc ii, Lines 48-50). Macbeth is getting extremely paranoid and feels bad killing Duncan. Macbeths ambitions caused him to murder Duncan, but he also had Banquo murdered, and wanted to murder Banquo 's son, Fleance. Macbeth wants Banquo killed because he saw him as a threat; however, Banquo had been Macbeth 's friend and thought he could trust him. "