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The Insanity Of Macbeth
Reading Macbeth, we see several instances indicating the levels of insanity in the play. While most people believe that Macbeth dies solely because he was overconfident. We can see how insanity helped push him over the edge, from before he kills Duncan, to his death, from hero to villain, his sanity fades away until insanity is all that remains. With the push of his wife and what the witches said, Macbeth befalls deeper and loses the way to the right path, guided down the wrong path by the hand of his wife, Lady Macbeth.
In Act One, we are introduced to the three witches before Macbeth. In scene three, Macbeth and Banquo make their first appearance, and the witches before them. When the witches give the prophecies about Macbeth being thane of Cawdor then King and Banquo’s children taking the throne before vanishing. In scene five, Lady Macbeth is introduced, reading a letter from Macbeth while the messenger enters the scene, saying that Duncan is on his way to the Macbeth castle. When she learns of what the witches told Macbeth, she slowly plants the thought of killing Duncan in his head. In scene seven, Macbeth is found pacing his kitchen as he thinks over killing Duncan. The first symptom of insanity in the play is when he sees the dagger floating before him before he goes to kill Duncan.
In Act Two, scene one we start with Banquo walking through the halls of Macbeth’s castle with his son. Macbeth comes in, surprising Banquo, which he makes a comment being surprised that the lord of the castle was still awake. Macbeth makes remarks, "how sleeping creates cursed thoughts". A loud knocking sounds in the castle, as Macbeth returns to his bedchamber. As he moves to wash his hands, he makes a comment that will Neptune not wash the blood from his hands, whilst Lady Macbeth stands off to the side before saying that just water will do. After the "discovery" of the dead King, his sons go on the run, making others believe they were behind their father’s death. Act Three opens to Banquo pacing in the royal place thinking about what the witches told him. When Macbeth arrives, dressed as a king, he brings up the feast he’s holding that night and invites Banquo, who nods before making a comment about going for a ride. When everyone is gone from the room, a servant comes in, telling Macbeth that the men he wanted to talk to where there. Macbeth sets up his friend’s death. When the feast comes around, Macbeth is informed that Banquo is dead but his son got away. When Macbeth sits at the table, he sees the ghost or hallucinations dead friend, Banquo.
Act Four is more of a filler for the play. It shows the witches preparing to speak to Macbeth once more, the Macduff household being killed by Macbeth’s order. Malcolm and Macduff agreeing to work together then Macduff learning of his family’s death. Entering Act Five, we get to see the mental state of Lady Macbeth. Her insanity has caused to her sleepwalk, which in turn brought forth writing, reading, and talking, all while asleep. Macbeth’s insanity is no better, the witches are not helping as they tell Macbeth how his downfall will come. His paranoia causes him to make the defenses around the castle stronger, his insanity diminishing his emotions. When Lady Macbeth dies, he holds no emotions when he is told. Word reaches Macbeth that Birnam Wood is on the move, he decides to head out to the battlefield, believing he can't be killed because “no man borne from a woman can kill him”. Without thinking of a plan, he rushes into battle, proving sanity has left him entirely, he worries of nothing. Coming across Macduff, he becomes paranoid because Macduff was “untimely ripped from his mother’s womb”. Macduff kills Macbeth, cutting off his head.
The level of insanity in the play declines further and furthermore, resulting in the death of Macbeth. Several signs are evident while reading. Most people believe that Macbeth dies because of his confidence, but it was a contributor to his insanity. From start to finish, we can see how and why Macbeth crumbles, by what the witches tell him and how his wife acts, he is guided down the wrong path, sinking deeper into the madness. From hero to villain and villain to death, Macbeth is undoubtedly a tragedy.
