Macbeth’s Deteriorating Mental State

This soliloquy shows Macbeth’s last shred of morality leaving him. However, Macbeth does not call the whole plan off, because he is still ambitious enough to want to be king. Once he follows with the plan and murders Duncan, he could never go back: “But, in the step he took in murdering his kinsman and guest, he seemed to have put between himself and the possibility of better things a chasm which could not be crossed. From that day he began to drift away from all that was good. The evil of his heart became unreined, and it hurried him madly on in the dark pathway which now opened before him” (Munro 32).

As a proud man this was a slap to the face, he thought that he was a better representative of that title which provoked him into to becoming king while pushing all morality aside. Because of Macbeth’s inability of any modesty or humi... ... middle of paper ... ...he throne. His ambition changed him and takes charge of his own actions when he plans the murder of Banquo and hired the murderers himself without consulting his wife at all. Banquo because he was the He was never really content; he was always thinking of outcomes that may happen that prevents him from keeping the throne. As a metaphor Macbeth says: This is an example of Macbeth’s ambition taking over; he has the throne by means of murder and now to maintain the crown he has commit violent bloodshed.

Macbeth is never comfortable in his role and with his decisions, and role of a criminal. He is unable to bear the physiological consequences of his atrocities. L... ... middle of paper ... ...razy over it. It is easy to get so wrapped up in one thing in this world and that’s what happened to Macbeth, he lost sight of what is really important and focused too much on social status, power, and fame and it cost him his life. Revenge also plays a large role in this play and that can relate to everyday life.

Macbeth also hires the murderers to kill Macduff's family. This demonstrates Macbeth's obsession because it indicates that Macbeth values his power over his friends. His obsession with power causes Macbeth to feel guilty and lose his sanity. Macbeth's guilt and loss of sanity is indicated in the hallucinations he experiences. His first hallucination occurs just before killing King Duncan.

Furthermore, we also learn about Lady Macduff’s and her kids’ death. To prove this, Macbeth says in Act 4, scene 1 that he wants to kill Macduff and his family for joining Malcolm, the protagonist adds “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, / Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword / His wife, babes, and all unfortunate swords / That trace him in his line.” Although many might argue that Macbeth was forced to kill Duncan, which caused him to kill everyone else, the protagonist could of have refused to follow his wife’s orders and refrain from the power he wants. From the quotations used, we can now tell that Macbeth is a monster due to the murders he

He seems to step very easily into the role of a madman, behaving erratically and upsetting the other characters with his wild speech and pointed innuendos. It is also important to note that Hamlet is extremely depressed and unhappy with the state of affairs in Denmark and in his own family. At a number of points in the play, he contemplates his own death and even the option of suicide. Hamlet is a man of thought' forced to become a `man of action' because right from the start of the play, he is expected to take revenge/action for the murder of his father. His contrast of philosopher and revenger is shown throughout the play, either by the thoughts of the torments of this burden, decisions he has to make or actions he is expected to take.

This advice causes him to become scared and makes him feel as if he needs to kill more people to protect himself. This false sense of fate and power on his part is a major factor in his downfall. So, the witches influence Macbeth by causing his ascension, his madness, and his demise. They cannot thus compel his will to evil; but they do arouse his passions and stir up a vehement and inordinate apprehension of the imagination, which so perverts the judgment of reason that it leads his will toward choosing means to the desired temporal good.)

Macbeth then kills his close friend Banquo and attempted to kill Banquo’s son, based on fears that Banquo’s son will become king. Macbeth brings forth murderers and states, “ Know That it was he, in the times past, which held you So under fortune, which you thought had been Our innocent self…. So is he mine, and in such bloody distance That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near’st of life. And though I could With barefaced power sweep him from my sight.” Macbeth deceives the Murderers and tells them that Banquo is to blame for their misfortune. He then convinces them that Banquo is the enemy and he must be killed.

Macbeth is not happy with being Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and a general of an army because he is so power hungry; he will not relent until the prophecy comes true and he becomes king. Macbeth became a very brutal man with malicious plans because of the despair this new way of living had brought him; his hope for a new future completely vanished. Macbeth lost sight of who he was when he started obsessing over everything the three witches told him. Greed played a large role in his life when he first decided that taking the Prince of Cumberland title was “a step On which [he] must fall down, or else o’erleap, For in [his] way it lies,” (1.4.54-55). He became very greedy at this point, striving for whatever would lead him down the path to become king, even the end to his relationships.

[...] I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Valuing ambition, which o'erleaps itself/ And falls on th' other-" (1.7.8-28). At this moment, Macbeth contemplates on killing King Duncan as he visualizes the long term consequences of committing the crime. The reader can grasp his moral judgement as he understands that by proceeding with the murder, he is only causing his own demise and punishing himself. With that b... ... middle of paper ... ...'s state with Scotland and England. Through himself, the relationships he creates and destroys, and the deterioration of nations, Macbeth's character proves the power of ambition and its ability to corrupt one's life.