Examples Of Mental Deterioration In Macbeth

Mental deterioration can be defined as mental breakdown to the point of hallucination, memory lapses and destructive thoughts. In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth’s mental state starts to deteriorate following the murder of King Duncan, and he begins to seek help from inanimate objects as well as experience vivid hallucinations. Nature symbolism emphasizes Macbeth’s mental deterioration as he seeks help from lifeless objects. Macbeth asks inanimate objects to remove his guilt instead of people because he worries of the repercussions of his crimes he will face. The guilt Macbeth feels when he plans and executes Banquo’s murder causes him to have realistic hallucinations and he is unable to differentiate between reality and his

Macbeth’s mental deterioration is evident because of the animal symbolism Shakespeare uses. As proof, when Macbeth expresses his frustration with Banquo’s suspicion of his crime, he cries, “Oh, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!” (III. ii. 38). Shakespeare uses diction to highlight Macbeth’s mental state. Macbeth uses the word ‘scorpion’ to describe his pain. The diction proves Macbeth’s mental change, as mental deterioration is often described as the softening of the brain in the same way that scorpion bites cause the skin to be soft. Shakespeare's use of the word ‘scorpion’ also describes the condition of his mind. Scorpions are poisonous animals. When the scorpions ‘pinch’ Macbeth, they release the poison. Poison causes illness; Macbeth suffers from mental deterioration. Poison can also cause death if not treated as Macbeth does not seek proper help to clear his concise, the passage foreshadows his mental deterioration will lead to his death. Additionally, when the ghost of Banquo appears for the second time, Macbeth challenges it: “Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,/ The armed rhinoceros, or th’ Hyrcan tiger;/ Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves/ Shall never tremble.” (III. iv.100-103). Shakespeare uses metaphors to emphasize how much guilt Macbeth feels. Banquo’s ghost symbolizes Macbeth’s guilt. He demands the ghost of Banquo to go and not to disturb him again; just as he wants his guilt to vanish. Shakespeare also uses imagery to paint a picture of how consuming Macbeth’s guilt is. Since animals like the Hyrcan tiger are ferocious and frightening, this reveals that Macbeth greatly fears his guilt and how substantial Macbeth’s guilt is; he would rather face vicious animals than the guilt of the murder of Banquo. The diction also foreshadows the downfall of Macbeth if he cannot discard his guilt. Thus, Shakespeare uses animal symbolism to emphasize and reinforce