Marcquel’s Online Journal

“How does Shakespeare present Macbeth’s deteriorating state of mind?”

Shakespeare has presented Macbeth’s deteriorating state of mind by using different techniques to communicate Macbeth’s physiological feelings throughout the play. In the play, Macbeth has acquainted three witches who have held a controversy of existence. They have told Macbeth that in the near future he will become king, however Duncan who is the current king is standing in his way. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth of the news and she is now craving for more power because if Macbeth becomes king she will be queen, this motivates her desire to eliminate Duncan and has now bullied her husband to kill King Duncan for the throne. Once he eventually murders Duncan and becomes king, he has another obstacle beyond him to exceed his royal blood to his children. The witches had also stated that Banquo’s sons will take over the throne not Macbeth’s sons. Banquo has become aware of the situation and has now tried to take his son Fleance to flee away from Macbeth. Macbeth hired three murders to eradicate Banquo and his son, they successfully killed Banquo but did not kill Fleance. Shortly before Banqou’s death he told his son to avenge him, meaning Fleance is now seeking vengeance against Macbeth. Macbeth has now gone from beloved Scottish hero to a evil traitor obsessed with power and dominance. In this play Macbeth has a variety of mixed emotions that Shakespeare has presented to the audience and readers by using many devices.

One way Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s deteriorating state of mind is by using language features. One of the language feature he uses is metaphors, “Argh! I feel like my mind is full of scorpions”. This means Macbeth is feeling like his mind is poisonous and dangerous like a scorpion, this metaphor shows Macbeth’s mind set as being evil and malicious. Macbeth uses this metaphor in “Act 3 Scene 2” when the three murders come back to inform Macbeth that they have killed Banqou but Fleance has escaped. This means that they have only accomplished one out of two of the tasks given, causing great stress for Macbeth as he now is weary of Fleance. Macbeth then states the quote, “Argh! I feel like my mind is full of scorpions” because he has just come into realisation of his evil desires and venomous state of mind. Lady Macbeth then  tries to encourage her husband by saying, “But they can’t live forever” Macbeth replies saying ” That’s comforting. They can be killed, it’s true”. This brief conversation shows how his state of mind is deteriorating as before he did not have the wicked thoughts he posses now.

Another language feature Shakespeare uses is paradox, which is when a statement or proposition is very unreasonable but when investigated it may prove to be true. “Fair is foul, foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air.” This is a paradox because fair can’t be foul and foul can’t be fair as they are two completely different things. However when investigated Macbeth has been both as he has committed treason but has been a loyal soldier. This presents Macbeth’s deteriorating state of mind as being indecisive, he was contemplating whether or not he should kill Duncan after being a good solder and a reliant.

Another key factor that presents Macbeth’s deteriorating state of mind is dramatic devices. A dramatic device is any technique that a playwright uses to make a literary work more interesting and create a special effect on the audience. One example used frequently in the play is dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something which part/or all of the cast does not know. For example in Macbeth “Act 1 Scene 4”, Macbeth was saying “aside” how he had to become king. “The prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, for in my way it lies”. This is a clear indication of Macbeths venomous attempt to become king. When this passage is mentioned only Macbeth, the witches and the audience know about Macbeth’s mission to be King of Scotland.

What is Shakespeare trying to communicate about life in this passage spoken by the character Macbeth?

Shakespear is trying to communicate through Macbeth that life is hopeless and despairing. In this passage Macbeth has just previously heard about his wife’s death and is currently in deep depression. In his soliloquy he is speaking about life and its purposes and fortune. Shakespear has used Macbeth to communicate what life is and its meaning in the play. Macbeth states “life is but a walking shadow”, he is using a metaphor to describe life and how it is meaningless. That nothing we really see in life is substantial, until perhaps it is too late.

Macbeth is currently going threw a mix of emotions feeling irrelevant, angry and hopeless. This is shown by the way he has described life and how he feels about it, “Out,out brief candle, Life’s but a walking shadow.” He is angry when explained, “It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.”

“Duncan is in his grave;
After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well.”

This shows how Macbeth is trying to interpret the death of Duncan with reassurance that they were not to blame and it was better for Duncan. This is indicated by him saying Duncan is in his grave sleeping well. Macbeth is trying to calm Lady Macbeth down as she is feeling guilty and regretful but Macbeth is not.

“Argh! I feel like my mind is full of scorpions, my dear wife.”

This shows how Macbeths thoughts are right now having a “mind full of scorpions”. Scorpions are poisonous and dangerous so this means that Macbeth feels evil and if someone is having poisonous thoughts they must be thinking about vile things.

“Or why Upon this blasted heath you stop our way With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you”.’ – Shows he is strong in mind and not scared by the unknown.

‘Come what come may Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.’ – Shows he is not bothered wether he becomes king or not and is leaving it in fates hands.
‘The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step On which I must fall down.’ – Shows he is ambitious about becoming king and really wants it.
‘Who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself.’ – He is ambiguous and does not really know if he should kill the king who he believes is a good man.
‘No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas in incarnadine, making the green one red.’ – He is feeling so guilty that he thinks even if he washed his hands in the ocean then the ocean will turn red from blood.

A Paradox is when a statement or proposition is very unreasonable but when investigated it may prove to be true.

“Fair is foul, foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air.” This is a paradox because fair can’t be foul and foul can’t be fair as they are two completely different things. However when investigated someone (Macbeth) could be both as he is about to commit treason but has been a loyal soldier.

Metaphysics is when you act like something or someone is real. It may or may not be real but normally is not.

“You should be women, and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so.” This shows how Banquo has metaphorically described the witches when we do not know if their existence is real or not.

Another example which should be more lucid is once the three witches are introduced in the beginning of the play telling Macbeth three prophesies. “He will be thane of Cawdor, thane of glams and king.” These prophesies introduce Macbeth into the ideas of greatness, he will eventually follow through killing king Duncan. This brings into the play, the idea of fate. Macbeth is not or has not been announced as king yet so it’s not reality right now.

Pathetic fallacy is when the mood in a peice of the play is interpreted by the weather and natural environment.

An example is in Act 1 Scene 1, “Fair is foul, foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air.”

This is an example of pathetic fallacy as this quote has shown how the mood of the play being “foul” interpreted by the weather being ” foggy and filthy”.

Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something which part/ or all of the cast does not know.

For example in Macbeth “Act 1 Scene 4”, Macbeth was saying “aside” how he had to become king. “The prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, for in my way it lies.”

This is a clear indication of Macbeths venomous attempt to become king.

First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself.

This shows Macbeth saying that he is ment to be one of the kings most trusted men but he yet is still going kill him by a knife, he is saying that is wrong.

Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongu’d, against
The deep damnation of his taking-off;

In this passage Macbeth is clearly indicating how much of a good king Duncan is praising his great aspects and saying the angels will acknowledge that once he dies. This is a lot of praise for a man he is willing to kill for his own benefit. Demonstrating how great he thinks of Duncan and the first peice demonstrating his guilt and disloyalty.

Overal you can tell he is contemplating whether or not he should participate in his pursuit to become king in a forceful action.

The prince of Cumberland! Who is someone who must fall down, or else I will overtake him, as he is in my way. I don’t want anyone to see my dark desires, We act civil. However the king fears what the he cannot see.