Macbeth’s State Of Mind

The introduction of the play starts with the prophecies of the three weird sisters, who have a mysterious foreshadowing of the future for Macbeth. The beginning excitement or intrusion starts with the initial soliloquy that follows the prophecies of the witches. Right before this speech Macbeth has returned from a battle, very proud of his courageousness and superiority. King Duncan praises him for his bravery and the victory. Soon after he and Banquo are approached by three witches who prophesy him to be tha

The next stage in the dramatic structure is the rising action and this soliloquy is one that fits into it. The next speech at the end of act 1 is where Macbeth is dwells upon whether he should commit the deed or not. Before this soliloquy the Macbeth returns home to Lady Macbeth who is so confident about killing King Duncan and says that she will take it upon her hands. He watches her deceive the king and he sees how it is very wrong to kill this man in his own home. Macbeth begins to feel he doesn’t know what to do, and has come to the conclusion that he doesn’t have any real reason to kill Duncan. He finds that it’s only his ambition to move up in status that pushes him towards the murder. Macbeth also worries about the fate of his soul after committing this crime where he says “But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we’d jump the life to come.” He seems to worry about his afterlife very often in the play and its part of the controversy he faces in this act. Another reason for not murdering Duncan is that it would be wrong to do it in his own home, and that he would be mourned so greatly. Shakespeare uses imagery also to portray his state of mind by talking about the poisoned chalice that he will drink out of if he commits this deed, meaning that he will be killing himself.

The climax and most well known soliloquy is the “Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow” speech which reflects upon his failure and insignificance. Before this soliloquy, the first sign of his death, which is that Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane, comes true. His wife also commits suicide and his reaction was that “She should have died hereafter.” This part shows his change in the state of mind from the beginning to the end. In the beginning Macbeth had so much trouble committing murder and began to have nightmares about it. Now even the death of his wife doesn’t even stir a thought of mourning in his mind, because he has been engulfed in violence so many times. One of the main points he makes in this soliloquy is that every person has their fame at one point for a brief time, but then they are never heard of again. Macbeth feels his life has been a waste and that his kingship has accomplished nothing. M

Some topics in this essay:
King Duncan, , Lady Macbeth, Birnam Wood, Dunsinane Macbeth, Macbeth Macbeth’s, Instead Macbeth, Macbeth Banquo’s, Malcom Duncan’s, Scotland Macbeth, rising action, dramatic structure, king duncan, banquo’s sons, commit deed, various stages plot, falling action, soliloquy macbeth, beginning excitement, king scotland, lady macbeth, killing king duncan, soliloquy rising action,