Examples Of Mental Deterioration In Macbeth

One of the philosophical quotes utter by Euripides is that “Those whom God wishes to destroy they first make mad”. By the same token, Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” explores the mental deterioration promotes ruthless ambition, as Macbeth is driven by the temptation of power to commit atrocities in the following play. This affirmation is revealed when Macbeth is seduced by his own ambition, and then becomes infatuated with power, ultimately results in tragic consequences. The mental deterioration is a factor of unscrupulously deed for individual’s overwhelming blind ambition which results in their own destruction.

Initially, Macbeth’s ambition germinates and he is effortlessly manipulated by the others leads to his mental state starts to decay.Corruption

of Macbeth’s mental ability begins to occur after the witches adversely affected him by the prophecy. In the beginning of the play, three witches foretell Macbeth that he will be the future king. The witches’ prophecies provoke Macbeth’s mental condition swings between remaining loyalty to Duncan and fulfilling his own ambition. Therefore, his fledgling ambition develops in the deep mind. His determination of murder which is manipulated by Lady Macbeth leads to Macbeth’s mental state decays. Before the murder, Macbeth cringes but Lady Macbeth persuades him to kill the King. Lady Macbeth’s statement is convinced Macbeth that murder is a way to show courage and to fulfill his ambition. Lady Macbeth’s persuasiveness contributes to further decay his psychological stability that his own ambition is more important than his loyalty.His mental stability starts to breakdown since his behaviour is not in accordance with his own desire. Macbeth believes the floating dagger is his mind plays trick with him, as he states, . He is struggled with his feeling of guilt as he begins to hallucinate. Macbeth’s mental state deteriorate incredibly when he decides to kill an innocent man for achieving his ambitious goal.

However, the sane in Macbeth’s mind turns into an uncontrollable and irrational beast for maintaining his throne.As a sign of Macbeth’s mental deterioration, he sees Banquo’s ghost sits in his place.

Macbeth is frightened by the Banquo’s ghost and says, “let the earth hide thee” (3,4) at the banquet. The illusion indicates that his guilt establishes the collapse of his mental stability. Indeed, Macbeth has been processed by paranoia since he believes Banquo comes back for revenging and threaten is everywhere that even from the dead. Therefore, these reasons lead to reinforces his ambition for keeping his reign. Macbeth’s mental state deteriorates continually, he seeks out the prophecies from the witches again for retaining his crown. He sees several illusions with their own message. These hallucinations prove Macbeth’s mental deterioration. Besides, the witches lure him away further from his conscience. They let him believes that he is undefeatable which develops his insane. Macbeth’s mental health crumble completely that he is able to do evil deeds in order to feed his own greed. Macbeth sends murders to slaughter Macduff’s entire family, even include the innocent children. Macbeth sinks deeper into insanity. He determinates to kill Macduff’s family for eliminating threats to his power because of an evil prophecy. At this point, he is consumed by ambition and willing to do anything in order to maintain his

power.

Consequently, Macbeth devastates himself due to his insane mental state. Macbeth’s deranged mental state turns him from an honourable hero into an immoral tyrant. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is admirable and praised by every people in Scotland. In contrast, he turns into an unscrupulous dictator in the end. As his mental ability deteriorates, he becomes more violent and more unprincipled due to ambition throughout the play. The honourable Macbeth is destroyed by his own mental deterioration. Macbeth’s mental condition degenerates completely, as a consequence, he becomes a ruthless tyrant. The people in Scotland lose faith in him, as Angus declares, “”. His mental instability is the reason that he commits several crimes. These immoral behaviours for fulfilling his own ambition disappoints people, and instead his friend, like Macduff, turns to his enemy in order to take him down. Macbeth’s mental deterioration leads to his own death.