Mental Deterioration In Macbeth Essay

Mental Deterioration of Macbeth Shakespeare's Macbeth is a heroic tragedy that shows the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition for those who seek power for its own sake. These psychological effects can be seen in many characters, but are most clearly displayed in the main character Macbeth. Macbeth begins the play as a noble and stable character- a loyal husband, subject, and the Thane of Glamis. However, as Macbeth receives more power and becomes more ambitious, he loses his mental stability. Macbeth’s mind deteriorates from his strong ambition, his guilt of killing, and the paranoia that comes of power. You can also see Macbeth’s mind deteriorate by examining his visions, attitude toward fear and death, and how

After a long and hard battle, the Sergeant says to King Duncan, “For brave Macbeth,-well he deserves that name,- disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel, which smok’d with bloody execution , like valour’s minion carv’d out his passage till he fac’d the slave;” (1.2.16) . This quote shows that Macbeth is viewed as a valiant soldier and a capable leader. However, it does not take long for the real Macbeth to be revealed- a blindly ambitious man, easily manipulated by the prospect of a higher status. His quest for power is what drives his insanity, and after having been deemed the Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth’s ambition can immediately be seen. In a soliloquy, Macbeth says, “Present fears are less than horrible imaginings; my thought, whose murder yet is but fantastica, shakes so my single state of man that function is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is but what is not” (1.3.140). Macbeth has just gained more power, and his immediate thought is of how to gain an even higher status as king. He imagines how to kill Duncan, and then is troubled by his thoughts, telling himself it is wrong. This inner struggle between Macbeth’s ambition and his hesitation to kill Duncan is the first sure sign of his mental deterioration. Although Macbeth does kill Duncan, he questions whether or not he should to do so, which is far different from how Macbeth feels about murder later in the play. Macbeth becomes king, and this power leads

Hubris is a flaw throughout many works of literature and can be seen prevalent through the course of history. Macbeth’s arrogance skyrockets throughout the play and proves to be his fatal flaw that leads him to his final state of mental decay, despair, and hopelessness. The hubris and lust for power create a blind, remorseless, killing machine that progressively worsens as his prophecy and actions unfold. Paranoia is a trait commonly found in tyrannical rulers, and is clearly seen in Macbeth. When he is told that Banquo is dead, but that Fleance has gotten away, Macbeth exclaims, “Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect;” (3.4.20). Macbeth worries about Fleance because the witches said that he and his sons would be kings. The final sign of Macbeth’s mental decay is his loss of sleep throughout the