Macbeth Loss Of Sanity Analysis

Written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is a play that highlights one common theme: the gradual loss of sanity. Macbeth progressively becomes plagued by intense, consuming guilt as his desire for power drives him to attain his goals by any means necessary, including the act of committing murder. Feeding his hunger for dominance, he murders King Duncan in cold blood in order to become the King of Scotland, has Banquo killed by three murderers to maintain his position as royalty, and finally, he has Macduff’s family slaughtered out of rage and fear. Although all of these occurrences take place because of Macbeth’s eagerness to be King, they all result in him being overtaken by shame and dismay. Realizing that every move that he makes is completed of …show more content…
Out of fear, Macbeth has Macduff’s family killed because after he receives the witches’ prophecies. Following that act, he suffers with the guilt of his decision as he debates whether or not he should battle a man who now has no family. After the Thane of Cawdor sends for Banquo and Fleance to be killed, he endures intense feelings of remorse and also hallucinates because he realizes that it is his fault that Banquo will not be attending the banquet. Finally, the most evident example of Macbeth’s mental deterioration is when he kills King Duncan and he begins to see images that are not there. In addition, he stops sleeping, and he refuses to accept responsibility for what he has done. During the entire play, Macbeth acts out of guilt and fear and is not once threatened or forced to execute a crime. By sinning, committing high treason, and ending the lives of many, Macbeth’s mental deterioration becomes complete. Although he was driven there by panic and the thirst for dominance, no excuse could ever validate Macbeth’s response to guilt and the power of his free