Essay about Macbeth’s madness

By Enrique Germán Zabala

15/11/2010 PROFESORADO DE INGLES IFD Nº6 SEDE PERICO

Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………………….Page 1

Hypothesis ……………………………………………………………..Page 2

How is it organized? ……………………………………………….Page 3

CHAPTER 1 …………………………………………………………..Page 4

First event

CHAPTER 2 .…………………………………………………………..Page 6

Second event

CHAPTER 3 …………………………………………………………….Page 7

Third event

CHAPTER 4 ……………………………………………………………Page 10

Other events

Conclusion …………………………………………………………….Page 12

Bibliography ………………………………………………………….Page 13

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Introduction

Topic: Macbeth’s madness

Madness1 is a mental illness. It is a term used for any condition that affects a

person's mood, behaviour or thoughts. Sometimes, it is called “the disease of the

mind”.

Madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or

behavioral patterns.

Madness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective

distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which are not a part

of normal development or culture.

Madness can occurs in the minds of people who have experienced an event or series

of traumatic events, for instance, murders.

In the 17th century, the theme of madness seems to be very popular. For example,

William Shakespeare uses this theme in several of his famous plays, such as, “The

Tragedy of Macbeth”, “Hamlet”, and “The King Lear”. It appears that madness is a

characteristic of Shakespeare’s novels. In the “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, the theme

of madness is an important part of the novel, in which Macbeth and his wife fall in

this mental illness.

Madness in Shakespeare’s works seems to be associated to delusions2, because

after Macbeth kills his friend Banquo, he sees his ghost. It could be the idea that

people in that time had about madness.

The present essay focuses on “The tragedy of Macbeth”, and it deals with the causes

of his madness. The main questions that are going to be answered through this

essay are: What is the main reason that leads Macbeth to madness? What are the

events that put on evidence this reason? How is madness illustrated in the play?

When? And as a consequence of this reason, are there other incidents that take part

in his craziness? All of these questions will be developed along the different chapters

in this essay.

1 The definition of madness was taken from the Internet and Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 2 Delusion is a false belief that is maintained even if it is contradicted

2

Hypothesis

To begin, there are several reasons that could have led Macbeth to Madness, but

only one is the beginning of everything, and the principal cause of his mental illness.

It could be ambition, greed, remorse or even witches' influence, but the main

reason of Macbeth’s madness is his frail character and spirit. Because of this,

the ideas, which the witches put into his head, torment him all the time. Due to his

weakness, when Duncan names his son, Malcolm the next heir to the throne, he

cannot put up with the fact that he is never going to become king of Scotland if he

doesn't do anything, and finally, his fragile character allows his wife to manipulate

him, and to take control over his decisions. Therefore, all of these events are

evidence of his frail character, and they gradually carry him to commit treason and

several crimes. As a consequence, Macbeth falls in a deep remorse, and a mental

stress that later on drives him mad.

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How is it organized?

The present essay is organized with an introduction, in which the topic of the

essay, a definition of the topic, a brief description of the main points, and the

objective of this work are presented. A Hypothesis in which the arguments will be

established

There are four chapter in which the Hypothesis and the arguments will be analysed

and developed. In the conclusion the different questions that are formulated in the

introduction will be answered. Finally, in the bibliography, the different materials

used in this work will be named.

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DEVELOPMENT

Chapter 1

First event

At the beginning of the story after the first meeting of the witches in a great battle

Macbeth defeats The King of Norway and the traitor, The Thane of Cawdor. As a

result, he is given the title of Thane of Cawdor.

Macbeth is introduced as a brave, heroic and very loyal gentleman. But actually

nobody knows the true nature of his soul.

(Captain: For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name - Macbeth Act I,

scene II, line 16), (Duncan: O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman! -

Macbeth Act I, scene II, line 24)

In his first meeting with the witches, they manipulate him with their predictions but

they don’t commit the crimes. They tell him that his destiny is to become King of

Scotland, but they don’t tell him that he has to become a criminal to get there.

(Third Witch: All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter! - Macbeth Act

I, scene III, line 48)

The witches tell his Friend, Banquo, that he will be father of kings. But they don’t tell

Macbeth that he has to kill his friend.

(Third Witch: Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So all hail,

Macbeth and Banquo! - Macbeth Act I, scene III, line 65.

Macbeth starts to have many disturbing thoughts about his future. For example:

(MACBETH: [Aside] Glamis, and thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind.

Macbeth Act I, scene III, line 115).

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It is the first signal of his ambition. These ideas break his harmony and quietness,

What is more, when the first prediction becomes true, he is full of doubts, and he

begins to fight a battle in his mind that later he loses.

(MACBETH: [Aside] Two truths are told, as happy prologues to the swelling

act [Aside] This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill,

why hath it given me earnest of success, commencing in a truth? I am

thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion my thought,

whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that

function Is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is but what is not. Macbeth

Act I, scene III, line 126 - 141).

It is the first event that displayed Macbeth's weakness which leads him to commit

murder, and later on drives him mad.

In his first meeting with the witches

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Chapter 2

Second event

Another incident that puts on stage his fragile character is when Macbeth realizes

that he is never going to become king of Scotland, because even though he is

nephew of Duncan, he is not the principal heir to the crown. This occurrence takes

place when Duncan, the current King, names his son, Malcolm, the next heir to the

throne.

(Duncan: We will establish our estate upon our eldest, Malcolm, whom we

name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland; Macbeth Act I, scene IV, line 37

- 39)

In that moment Macbeth gets into fury because he is aware of that he doesn't have

any opportunity to get to the throne. Furthermore, he reveals his intention to obtain

the crown and his disagreement with the current appointment.

(MACBETH: [Aside] The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step on which I

must fall down, or else o’erleap, For in my way it lies. Macbeth Act I, scene

IV, line 48 - 50)

At this point, he is unable to manage his own wishes. He is in constant struggle with

his thoughts. Macbeth becomes in an insecure man and full of doubts.

He is never going to become king

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Chapter 3

Third event

Finally, the third event that shows his breakable character is when he writes a letter

to his wife, Lady Macbeth. He describes all what have happened. He trusts her and

he needs her support, because he hasn't got the determination to do what he is

thinking.

Lady Macbeth knows him quite well, and she describes him as a good, innocent, and

kind man.

(Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised: yet do

I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness To catch the

nearest way: thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without

The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou

holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou’ldst

have, great Glamis, That which cries ‘Thus thou must do, if thou have it;

And that which rather thou dost fear to do Than wishest should be

undone.’ Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear; And

chastise with the valor of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden

round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have thee crown’d

withal. Macbeth Act I, scene V, line 13 - 28)

But actually she wants to say that his inner self is frail. Lady Macbeth realizes that

she needs to encourage him to act against Duncan.

(LADY MACBETH: To beguile the time, look like the time; bear welcome in

your eye, your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, but be the

serpent under’t. Macbeth Act I, scene V, line 61 - 64)

Therefore, she starts to influences in his thoughts. Lady Macbeth wants to kill

Duncan, and then she develops a plan, and convinces her husband to perform it.

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(LADY MACBETH: O, never shall sun that morrow see! Macbeth Act I, scene

V, line 58 - 59)

In a way or another, Macbeth needs that someone else takes the final decision,

which is, to kill Duncan, because he doesn't have the strength to carry on.

(LADY MACBETH: He that’s coming must be provided for: and you shall put

this night’s great business into my dispatch. Macbeth Act I, scene V, line

64 - 66)

However, before the crime Macbeth has many doubts, because he thinks that they

can fail, but again Lady Macbeth is successful. She knows that she has power over

him. She tells him that he has to kill Duncan; otherwise he will be a coward. As a

result, Macbeth agrees with the plan.

(MACBETH: We will proceed no further in this business: Macbeth Act I,

scene VII, line 31)

(LADY MACBETH: Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st the

ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem, letting ‘I dare not’

wait upon ‘I would,’ like the poor cat i’ the adage? Macbeth Act I, scene

VII, line 41 - 45)

(MACBETH: If we should fail? Macbeth Act I, scene VII, line 58)

(MACBETH: I am settled, and bend up, each corporal agent to this terrible

feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide

what the false heart doth know. Macbeth Act I, scene VII, line 79 - 82)

These three events are proofs of Macbeth's weakness and his frail character,

because he is vulnerable emotionality. As a result of these events, he commits the

first crime, in which he kills Duncan. After that, he feels sorry for what he has done.

(MACBETH: What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes. Will all

great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No: this my

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hand will rather the multitudinous seas in incarnadine, making the green

one red. Macbeth Act II, scene II, line 62 - 65)

There seems to be that Lady Macbeth doesn’t feel anything about the terrible crime.

In addition, she continues telling his husband that he is a coward because he is

scared.

(LADY MACBETH: Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. Macbeth Act II,

scene II, line 55 - 56)

(LADY MACBETH: My hands are of your color; but I shame to wear a heart

so white. Macbeth Act II, scene II, line 66)

But actually, she is affected as well. She is tormented for the crime, and she says

that she is not happy despite she has everything.

(LADY MACBETH: Nought’s had, all’s spent, where our desire is got without

content: ’Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in

doubtful joy. Macbeth Act III, scene II, line 4 - 7).

Lady Macbeth has power over her husband

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Chapter 4

Other events

At this time, a new figure emerges, the remorse that Macbeth feels for what he has

done.

(Macbeth: better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent

to peace, than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy. Macbeth

Act III, scene II, line 19 – 21)

Although, Macbeth is crowned king of Scotland he is not completely relaxed. He is

afraid because he remembers what the witches have told him about Banquo and his

descendants.

(Macbeth: To be thus is nothing; But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo

stick deep: and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be fear’d.

Macbeth Act III, scene I, line 50). (There is none but he whose being I do

fear: and, under him, my Genius is rebuked; as, it is said, mark Antony’s

was by Caesar. Macbeth Act III, scene I, line 55 - 58).

Therefore, he decides to kill his friend Banquo and his son “Fleance”. It is another

evidence of his weakness because, in spite of the fact that he becomes king;

Macbeth continues being affected by the predictions of the witches.

(Macbeth: To leave no rubs nor botches in the work Fleance his son, that

keeps him company, whose absence is no less material to me than is his

father’s, must embrace the fate of that dark hour. Macbeth Act III, scene

I, line 133 - 136)

He cannot stop with the murders because he has to maintain his lies and covers his

crimes. As a consequence of the murders, Macbeth is full of remorse, and it doesn't

let him sleep very well. He is constantly thinking about the crimes that he has

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committed. It produces him a mental stress that gradually causes him mental

problems. “According to the investigations sleeping problems can cause mental

problems3”. For example: In the following lines Macbeth expresses his difficulties to

sleep.

(Macbeth: But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, ere

we will eat our meal in fear and sleep in the affliction of these terrible

dreams that shake us nightly. Macbeth Act III, scene II, line 16 - 19).

Another signal of his mental stress and anxiety is when he learns that Fleance is

alive.

(First Murderer: Most royal sir, Fleance is escaped. Macbeth Act III, scene

IV, line 20)

(MACBETH: Then comes my fit again. Macbeth Act III, scene IV, line 21).

These experiences have affected him deeply, and it is reflected in his behaviour in

front of the nobles when he sees the ghost of Banquo.

(MACBETH: Thou canst not say I did it: never shake thy gory locks at me.

Macbeth Act III, scene IV, line 50).

But all of these changes are symptoms of his mental illness. Even Lady Macbeth

shows the symptoms of madness, because she shares the same feeling of remorse.

(Doctor: This disease is beyond my practice: yet I have known those which

have walked in their sleep who have died holily in their beds. Macbeth Act

V, scene I, line 49 - 50)

At this time Macbeth continues with his affairs, but actually he is not aware of what

is happening. He doesn’t realize that everyone has left him, even his close nobles,

such as Macduff, Lennox, and Ross.

3 http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/poor-sleep-can-lead-to-madness/

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Conclusion

To conclude, through the different chapters of the present essay several questions

about the origin of Macbeth's madness were answered. It was not produced by a

random event, but there were many factors contributing in his deterioration.

Nevertheless, only one was the main reason, and the beginning of everything that

later on carried him through a long process where he committed treason and

murders in order to obtain power and the crown of Scotland. As it was described in

the previous chapters this factor was his frail character. This condition in his

personality was the key factor in his mental illness, because of this; at the beginning

the witches were successful influencing in his thoughts, and it developed his

ambition towards the crown. Secondly, when The King of Scotland, Duncan, named

his son the next heir to the throne, Macbeth simply cannot accept it, and he became

furious. Thirdly, Macbeth allowed that his wife manipulates him because he didn’t

have the strength to take the decisions.

These three events put on evidence his breakable character and spirit. However,

even though these incidents were the key factors in his madness there were others

that through this essay were mentioned, such as, the murder of Duncan which was a

traumatic experience for him or the remorse that he felt, after Duncan's crime and

his friend Banquo or the mental stress that he suffered for his actions or his anxiety

when he learned that Fleance escaped from the killers or his sleeping problems. All

of these additional factors contributed to his mental problems and later on they led

him to madness.

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Bibliography

Primary Text

Macbeth, edited by Rex Gibson - Cambridge school Shakespeare

Secondary texts

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition.

Encyclopedia Britannica 2009, student and home edition.

Oxford Collocations Dictionary

Online resources

http://bipolar.about.com/od/glossarym/g/gl_mental_illness.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insanity

http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-delusion-and-illusion/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_stress

http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/poor-sleep-can-lead-to-madness/