Effect On Macbeths Mind example essay topic
Did Macbeth have control over his actions If he had no conscience he would be mad, not knowing what he was doing and the effect his behaviour was having. Conscience is the difference between whether he was mad or bad. If bad, Macbeth would have been in control and knowing that what he was doing was wrong but continued in spite of that feeling no guilt. Macbeth may have been influenced by other parties making him sad due to lack of mental strength so he should be pitied for his weak mind. The signs of Macbeth being mad was the dagger he saw, before he was going to murder King Duncan, but that may have been due to him not wanting to go through with the deed, or having and attack of nerves or last minute doubts. But on the other hand, it could have been his psychotic mind putting the image before him, going through the murder prior to committing it.
This is unlikely as his response is surprise and disbelief. He becomes confused and searches for other explanations. If he was truly mad then logic probably wouldnt mean anything to him. The other main sign of madness is when he arrives at a banquet, he sees the ghost of Banquos sitting in his place. This event could be the result of by then an extremely guilty conscience; knowing that he had had his closest friend murdered because he thought he pose a threat to his throne. Also Macbeth feared Flea nce, Banquos son who he also tried to have killed and failed as the witches predicted him to become king one day.
Macbeth was the only person able to see the ghost and began shouting at it in a state of lunacy. Maybe the apparition was in Macbeths mind or maybe it really was Banquos ghost. The supernatural is something not yet understood and could be possible. Another possibility is that the lack of sleep could have had an effect on Macbeths mind, loosing important sleep driving him mad.
Was Macbeth bad There is a lot of evidence for this argument. Macbeth killed King Duncan through greed and wanting to be King of Scotland so badly to make what the witches prophesied come true. But he may have gone into it not thinking or knowing what he was letting himself in for. He did have many innocent people killed but he felt extreme guilt.
It is the fact that they were innocent that makes Macbeth bad. Mac duffs family had done nothing wrong, there was no reason to. The murders that Macbeth committed were the most serious ones possible. The king, his best friend and battle partner who probably saved his life many times and innocent people, women and children who had no connection with him. But did he have a choice about continuing to murder people He was trying to protect himself and his throne and once he started deceiving he had to carry on to cover up the last lie. It also got easier for him to cope with it as the more times something happens the easier it becomes.
Should Macbeth be pitied for his lack of mental strength He followed all the witches predictions and done his best to make them come true once he became Thane of Candor and he may not have even committed the original murder of King Duncan. After the first murder there was no going back for Macbeth and he had to go on to protect himself. But this is a life lead by extreme greed and selfishness which gives people no pity for him. In the end when he had a chance to kill Macduff and make the witches prophesy come true, as in the end he chose to live and die by the prophesy. If Macbeth had made up his own mind with no witches giving him ideas to encourage his greed or no manipulative wife knowing how to get out of him what she wants, Macbeth probably would have made a different decision. Not getting caught up in the first murder and having to continue to protect himself.
But if he honestly didnt want to commit any of the murders he wouldnt have and their must be some bad in him to have let it continue. I think that once he killed one person, he had to kill another, then another, so he had no choice to carry on. If he was brave like he seemed to suddenly become at the end, the worst possible killings of innocent people would have halted sooner or never have been commenced.