Preview

The Deterioration Of Macbeths Mental State

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
309 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Deterioration Of Macbeths Mental State
Once the honorable fighting Macbeth known by all, "What he hath lost honorable Macbeth hath won." Act 1 Scene 2, Line 69, through different mental states chooses not to wear his armor because he is delusional by the witches prophecy that he is invincible, "none of woman born" can harm him Act 4, Scene 1, Line 96.

As soon as Macbeth turns away the armor, the reader feels the sense that Macbeth is invincible, cannot be beaten in any length. But mentally he is delusional, by rather accepting that it's an unconquerable endeavor, he chooses to battle on. His still astray even after hearing his wife's death, "a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing" Act 5, Scene 5, Lines 25-27.

A messenger enters with astonishing news, the trees of Birnam Wood are advancing toward Dunsinane. Enraged and terrified, Macbeth recalls the prophecy that said he could not die till Birnam Wood moved to Dunsinane.

However, On the battlefield, Macbeth strikes those around him vigorously, insolent because no man born of woman can harm him. He kills Lord Siward's son and fades away in the fight.

Macbeth at last encounters Macduff. They fight, and when Macbeth insists that he is invincible, Macduff tells Macbeth that he was not of woman born, but rather "from his mother's womb / Untimely ripped" Act 5, Scene 5, Lines 10-11. Macbeth suddenly fears for his life, but he says that he will not surrender "[t]o kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet, / And to be baited with the rabble's curse" Act 5, Scene 10, Lines 28-29

Overall, Macbeth visits the truth on the verge of his death, till that point he was in mental state of invincibility, the feeling of being God. As reality struck him, he was less delusional and more in the realization his fate was no different then his

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    How, and by whom, is the prophecy about Macbeth being defeated by one “not of woman born” fulfilled?…

    • 941 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Macbeth flies like a rock; in the air, then on the ground. Noble many called him before his wife swayed his mind in the wrong way. Soon the selfish idea began to pour like molten iron into his head, soon cooling and becoming fixed in place, and extremely hard to take out. Heavy like it too; influential it is. This idea leads to his homicidal breakdown, becoming a cruel killer and tyrant - loved by none. Antagonist some may call him, and I am no exception to that title he bears. He believes he is invincible: untouchable, thus his fatal flaw leading to his…

    • 105 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mr Zakki

    • 1692 Words
    • 7 Pages

    ‘…but all’s too weak: For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name – disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like valor’s minion carved out his passage til he faced the slave; which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, till he unseam’d him from the nave to th’ chops, and fix’d his head upon our battlements.’ (Act 1, Scene 2 18-25)…

    • 1692 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Macbeth is overwhelmed by guilt and beings to hallucinate daggers, blood etc. This scene introduces the idea that there is a relationship between cruelty and masculinity: masculinity being the qualities that are supposed to ‘make a man’,’ such as physical strength and courage. Macbeth wishes to contain his loyalty to King Duncan in the beginning but after being question of his masculinity by his wife, Lady Macbeth, he rethinks his loyalty to the King and murders him. This theme is one of the most significant events in the novel due to the relationship of cruelty and masculinity becoming prominent to the play.…

    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth relies heavily in the witches prophecies in order to achieve victory; However, it leads to disaster when he feels betrayed by what he is told. Even though the play, Macbeth relies heavily on these predictions to see a great future. Act 5 Scene 3 , opens with people leaving Macbeth’s side to flee the bloodbath that is coming to the castle; Nevertheless, he laughs as though it does not matter for “, no man that’s born of woman Shall e’er have power upon thee” (5-3-6-7). Or “ Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane,” (5-3-1-2). His tone throughout the monologue is boastful and arrogant,which he hides behind a mask, that hides his true intentions and desire. Even though it wasn’t there when he killed Duncan and those guards but there for…

    • 363 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Essay Planning

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages

    “Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him.”…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He experiences visual hallucinations. He sees a dagger which he tries to grab but cannot and this makes him question whether it’s real or not. Whether it is his brain playing tricks on him because of his “heat-oppressèd brain” or not. This is Macbeth first response or reaction to the perception of the dagger and the treason of the mind itself. This goes to show the reader or viewer how guilt towards his the bad decision that he is to follow through with is taking its toll on him. The blood on the “daggers of the mind” signifies him going through with his decision and his oncoming extreme guilt. The blood he sees now covers both blades and the “dudgeon” a.k.a. the handle where his bloodied hand will stain. This is the first sign that something's not right with his ‘noggin.’ Based on the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorder website, Macbeth is experienced a mood-congruent hallucination. Basically, his excessive guilt for his decision to kill King Duncan has caused him to see the dagger. His guilt is messing with his mental health. He is not going to get any better from here on out. After initially murdering Duncan, Macbeth Starts hallucinating ultimately leading to gradual deterioration of his mind and health.…

    • 1876 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He instigated the murder of Banquo and Macduff’s family without egging from Lady Macbeth. He rationalises that the witches’ equivocation meant that he cannot be killed by one who is “woman born”; and he cannot be defeated until the “Birnam wood [moves]”. At Dunsinane facing defeat, he shows indifference and insensitivity to the horror cries of women caught in battle, citing that being instigator of much slaughter in his life horror doesn’t frighten him anymore. After receiving the news of death of Lady Macbeth, he reflects on the value of life and the inevitability of death. He regards people are as just “poor players” in life who fret around on life’s stage and when they die they are “heard no more”. He considers all his actions including murder are just part acting on life’s stage and have no consequences. Even facing crisis and defeat, Macbeth shows no remorse or…

    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Theme Of Power In Macbeth

    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Macbeth grew increasingly confident at the end of the play after realizing that pretending to be hopeful is the only way to convince everyone how strong he is. “Now does he feel his title hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief.” (V.ii.23-25) Macbeth who once thought he appeared invincible to everyone, is now too small to fit into Duncan’s robe. He is pictured to be a weak character, because he is incapable of handling the country and responsibilities that come after being a king. He is mocked when compared to a dwarfish thief in a giant’s robe, because it devalues his royal social disposition. The large garment emphasizes the size and value of such power and authority. Macbeth is not worthy of the honor that comes with the throne because of his inability to carry the responsibilities of being a devoted king like Duncan. His malicious character is not a moral representation of a loyal…

    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Theme Of Guilt In Macbeth

    • 847 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The only thing he had to worry about was Macduff and his family, so he sends for them to all be murdered, of course, the only difference between this time and all the other times is that Macbeth feels nothing after they are killed. He sees no ghost and he hears no voices telling him to, “Sleep no more!” (II.ii.34-35), he feels nothing by this point in the play. His wife dies and all he has to say is, “She should have died hereafter. There would have been a time for such a word” (V.v.17-18). His arrogance begins to show as he fights Young Siward. Macbeth was given the apparition that only a person not born of a woman can kill him, and everyone is born of a woman, so he has nothing to worry about. Whenever Macbeth slaughters Young Siward states, “Thou wast born of woman. But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, brandish by man that’s of a woman born” (V.vii.12-14), with no guilt whatsoever. Macbeth’s lack of guilt and excess of arrogance does eventually cost him his life. Macduff, whose family fell as victims of one of Macbeth’s guilt free murders, enters Dunsinane and finds Macbeth. Ultimately, Macduff kills Macbeth avenging every death Macbeth is responsible…

    • 847 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Macbeth

    • 2303 Words
    • 10 Pages

    “For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name – disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like valour’s minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave, which never shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, till he unseamed him from the nave to the chaps and fixed his head upon our battlements”…

    • 2303 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mental Illness In Macbeth

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Macbeth is unimpressed that Macduff has abandoned him and fled to England to persuade Malcolm to fight against him. He orders to “seize upon Fife...and all unfortunate soul that trace him in line”. In essence, Macbeth’s paranoia results in him being more psychologically unstable, but this time about losing his crown rather than being caused by guilt. Also, the witches’ prophecies slowly begin to envelop, causing him to repeat the words for a false sense of confidence. However, Lady Macbeth ultimately gives in to the burden of internal guilt that was previously hidden prior to the sleepwalking scene in Act 5, Scene 1 and commits suicide. In Macbeth’s soliloquy discusses the futility of life, on account that it is meaningless, “signifying nothing”. These words highlight Macbeth’s acceptance of defeat and that all the power he’s acquired mean nothing anymore. During the final scene, the insane Macbeth reiterates witches’ prophecies on the fact that he is invincible. Contrastly, Macduff states that he was “from his mother’s womb untimely ripped”. Therefore, Macduff’s final words result in Macbeth’s inevitable realization of…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth is suffering from his sinful deeds and everything that is said or done is taken as a threat to Macbeth or an accusation of murder on Macbeth 's part where he is full of fearful thoughts about being found out. He is becoming another person, being eaten up by his own greed for power.…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ambition In Macbeth

    • 813 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The second apparition told him "Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn the pow'r of man, for none of woman born shall harm MacBeth" (IV.i.79-81). This contributes to this feeling that he is invincible because he thinks that no one can not be born of a woman. This will later lead to MacBeth's demise and death, as he is not ready to face MacDuff, who was born through a C-section, which means he is technically not "born" of a woman. Also, the third apparition says, "Be lion-mettled, proud and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. MacBeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him" (IV.i. 90-94). This made him think that he will not be defeated until the forest of Birnam Wood moves and he doesn't think a forest will move. While he feels invincible because of this, the army MacDuff and Malcolm assembled is using the Birnam Wood as camouflage so it technically looks as if the forest is "moving". MacBeth, after feeling invincible and very cocky, dies by the sword of MacDuff, the man who was not born of woman. This is the third and final way ambition plays a big part in the…

    • 813 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The death of Macbeth is brought on by manipulation by his greedy wife and the deceptive witches and his own excessive ambition. Macbeth dies in a battle between him and Macduff. Macbeth brags to Macduff that he cannot be killed by a man who was born by a woman. However, Maxduff says he was not technically born by a woman because he was surfically removed. He then proceeded to fight Macbeth and kills…

    • 414 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays

Related Topics