Question

Early in Act V of The Tragedy of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth’s doctor says, “Unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.” Write an essay in which you explain how this remark may be applied to Lady Macbeth’s condition at this point and to the general situation in Macbeth’s realm.

Answer 1

The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare in which he narrates the ambition of the Macbeth couple to conquer the Scottish throne. To do so, Macbeth murders King Duncan, a fact that demands more deaths to be duly hidden and prevent suspicion. However, the couple begins to suffer from guilt and paranoia which leads Macbeth to become a tyrant.

Lady Macbeth, in turn, begins to hallucinate and sleepwalk. That is the reason why, in Act V, the doctor says, “Unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.” Lady Macbeth feels guilty for the deaths of Lady Macduff and Banquo and, while sleepwalking, believes to see blood on her hands. The civil war and bloodbath that begin to take place after Macbeth takes the throne are also unnatural troubles originated from unnatural deeds since Macbeth would have never become a king in a natural way. All the killing that was necessary to keep him in power – and taking someone’s life is certainly the most unnatural action a human being can conceive – takes its toll, depriving him and his wife from their mental health and, later on, their lives, and depriving the kingdom of peace.