Mental Illness In Macbeth

Known as a mental pattern that stresses or impairs personal function, mental illness has been found to promote violent and unethical activity. In the twenty-first century, researchers have discovered that mental illness leads to significantly higher homicide and suicide rates, with nearly one in every five U.S. adults suffering from the illness. Despite this, we were first introduced to mental illness in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth over four-hundred years ago when the main character, Macbeth, showed significant signs of an individual battling with mental illness. From morbid plans of murder to wild hallucinations, William Shakespeare uses the motif of visions to show the effects of illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression on Macbeth.

Before he decides to kill Duncan, Macbeth questions his visions of murdering the king and indicates he has forgotten his morals. This is evident when Macbeth says, “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs” (1. 3. 138-40). The quote by Macbeth suggests he is developing into a psychotic character and his psychological struggles are beginning. Ashley VanderWeele of Johnson & Wales University supports this idea in her “Revenge, Guilt, and Greed: Feast Scenes and Political Order in Shakespearian Society” essay by stating, “the effects of guilt on Macbeth’s mental health….leads to the eventual downfall of Scotland” (12). Wild

In Act I of the play, Macbeth states, “We will proceed no further in this business. / He hath honored me of late, and I have bought / Golden opinions from all sorts of people” (1. 7. 31-3). Macbeth’s acknowledgement that he and Lady Macbeth should not go through with the plan suggests he knows the difference between right and wrong, however his wife acts as a negative influence in dictating his actions. This behavior indicates Macbeth is mentally ill because those with mental illness often struggle with decision making. Lady Macbeth’s poor influence on her husband, Macbeth, is also caused by mental illness. She too feels guilt in assisting Macbeth with the murder of King Duncan, causing her to me severely depressed and hallucinate in the middle of the night. There is evidence of this when the gentlewoman states, “Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her / rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, / unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write / upon ’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to / bed;” (5. 1. 3-7). This suggests that Lady Macbeth is a victim of depression because her guilt will not allow her to sleep and it causes her to have many severe hallucinations, including the “non washable” blood on her hands. Assistant Professors at the International Islamic University support this idea in their