Examples Of Mental Deterioration In Macbeth

Examining Macbeth’s Mental Deterioration Guilt can come in many shapes and forms and is described as being held responsible for carrying out any action of wrongdoing. It is a part of the human race, although the magnitude of the sin depends on the magnitude of the consequence. Guilt can become a path of no return when it is concealed and hidden, but when it is confronted and dealt with progress can be made and clarity can be found. This was not the case for the protagonist Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The theme of guilt is accurately used to depict the mental deterioration of Macbeth through the play. Macbeth’s initial guilt from killing Duncan causes him to experience hallucinations that haunt him and make him go insane. Throughout

This is developed through the use of hallucinations, blood imagery and his desensitization to violence.
Firstly, Macbeth experiences a number of hallucinations as result of the guilt he is holding inside. These hallucinations appear at very critical times in the story and drive Macbeth into going mentally insane over the immense stress and guilt he is feeling. Early on in the story Macbeth begins to experience hallucinations when the possibility of becoming King is revealed. Macbeth’s hallucination of the floating dagger is a clear sign that he is mentally unable to control his thoughts, emotions and ambition. As Macbeth quietly walks down the hall to where Duncan sleeps he encounters something floating in the distance and says to himself, “Is this a dagger I see before me/ The handle toward my hand?” (2.1.33-4). From the start of the play Macbeth is already starting to feel guilty. Macbeth’s mind is so weak that he already feels guilty for a murder that he is not yet responsible for. The floating dagger pointing to Duncan’s room directly foreshadows his murder. Macbeth knows that when he reaches the dagger, the deed

As Macbeth becomes more violent, his emotional side quickly starts to wither away. He loses all connections and relationships to those around him and does not care about anyone but himself. After Macbeth’s crowning as king he decides to meet up with the three murderers to discuss his plan of action to kill Banquo explaining, “Who wear our health but sickly in his life,/ Which in his death were perfect./…That every minute of his being thrust/ Against my near’st of life./… To leave no rubs nor butches in the work-/ Fleance, his son, that keeps him company,/…must embrace the fate / Of that dark hour.” (3.1.109-40). At the beginning of the play Macbeth and Banquo were such good friends. They trusted and defended each other in battle. Although Banquo did suspect that something was going on with Macbeth he continues to treat him with respect and loyalty. Macbeth has become so desensitized to violence and terror that he decides to kill Banquo out of pure fear of the throne and crown being taken from him. Macbeth forgets about his friendship with Banquo and would much rather have him killed. This portrays the theme of the cyclical nature of violence because Macbeth will murder his own friend to secure his title as King. Macbeth clearly does not understand the difference between what is right and wrong. Macbeth uses violence to fight his