The Psychological Deterioration of Macbeth Ambition is the driving force that gives humans the desire to achieve a certain goal. Ambition is the motivation that keeps us going and a revered trait by many. However, it is also a psychological drug. Like many drugs, ambition also has a dark, addictive side: what used to be determination turns into obsession. Once hooked, one will stop at nothing to get what he wants, regardless of the cost.
The dangers of ambition can be seen in the Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth, where Shakespeare illustrates the progressive destruction of all morality in the protagonist Macbeth, who turns from a valiant warrior & loyal friend into a power hungry sociopath. Initially, Macbeth is introduced as a fearless soldier and is celebrated by the nobles of Scotland, as well as the King: “For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name-” (1. 2. 18) He is praised as a courageous and loyal man.
Unfortunately, this character trait changes when Macbeth meets the witches who greet him with a prophecy telling him that he will be king: “All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be King hereafter. ” (1. 3. 53) Macbeth, blindly trusting the divination, is attracted to the idea of himself as king; and being an ambitious man, he plans on fulfilling the prophecy. Macbeth plans on taking the crown by killing the current King, Duncan. As Macbeth commits his crime, he hallucinates prophetic voices saying, “Glamis hath murder’d sleep: and therefore Cawdor/ Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more! (2. 2 55-56) These voices tell some truth when Macbeth says, “Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep/ In the affliction of these terrible dreams/ That shake us nightly. ” (3. 2. 19-21)
Macbeth reveals that he is tortured with insomnia and nightmares. These are only a projection of his guilt- which as the plot advances- is an emotion Macbeth is less capable of feeling. After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth’s ambition starts to get the better part of him. In the next few acts, Macbeth’s integrity and morality continue to abate. Now that he is King, he is dominated by the desire to stay King.
Macbeth starts to fear that Banquo- having more rectitude than Macbeth- will expose him: “Our fears in in Banquo/ Stick deep, and in his royalty of naturel Reigns that which would be fear’d. ” (3. 1 53-55) Macbeth is also frightened by the witches’ prophecy for Banquo, which tells of Banquo fathering a line of kings: “Thou shall have kings, though thou be none. ” (1. 370) Macbeth has come too far to be exposed or to lose the crown to Banquo’s children. No longer the anxious, guilt-ridden man he was the night of Duncan’s assassination, Macbeth quickly comes up with a solution to his problem: kill the threats.
Macbeth convinces murderers that Banquo and his son Fleance are the reason for all their [murderers] problems and are a threat to the country. At this point in the play, it is very obvious that the power is going to Macbeth’s head. Macbeth will stop at nothing to get what he wants; even if it means murdering his best friend and attempting to murder an innocent child. Macbeth will do what he has to in order to secure his future, regardless of the lives he is destroying. Macbeth’s insanity is further outlined by his absolute most heinous act of the murder of Macduff’s entire family.
He makes this choice after visiting the witches a second time. During his visit, Macbeth is visited by three apparitions; one of which tells him to beware Macduff: “Beware Macduff;/ Beware the thane of Fife. ” (5. 1 63-64) Another apparition tell him, “Laugh to scorn/ The power of man, for none of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth. ” (5. 1 66-68) Macbeth originally opts to let Macduff live, not seeing him as a menace since no one born of woman can cause him [Macbeth] harm. But Macbeth changes his mind soon after.
Since Macduff’s loyalties do not lie with him, Macbeth throws a temper tantrum and decides to exact his revenge by killing Macduff’s wife and children. Macbeth has no logical reason to murder an entire family; he is doing it out of spite. The more Macbeth sinks into his ambitious quick sand, the more blood thirsty he becomes. Murder is how he got the throne, therefore murder will be how he keeps the throne. At this moment, Macbeth realizes that he has come too far to give up now.
This is evident when he says. “The very firstlings of my heart shall be/ The firstlings of my hand. (5. 1 178-9) Macbeth comes to the conclusion that he is already in so far deep that there’s no point in turning back now: “I am in blood/ Steep’d in so far, that, should I wade no more,/ Returning were as tedious as go o’er. ” (3. 4 167-9) Macbeth’s psychological state is such that he annihilates and entire family for no good reason and feels no remorse. Towards the end of the play, Macbeth, who was once admired by all, turns into a homicidal lunatic. Enslaved by his ambition, Macbeth puts his desires first, and is eventually it destroys him.
The progressive decline of Macbeth’s mental health is also a lesson for modern day individuals. Shakespeare teaches us of the dangers of ambition in the absence of values and morals. The lesson we learn as Macbeth descends deeper into the abyss of his madness is that ambition also has the power to corrupt us. While regarded amongst many as a good thing, too much ambition will cause a person to never be satisfied. Over ambitious people always want more; and like Macbeth, they will stop at nothing to get it, eventually leading to their own demise.
