The Role Of Mental Illness In Macbeth

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In Shakespeare's play, "Macbeth", we are introduced to the main character, Macbeth. He is known more as a strong fighter and loyal soldier than a vulnerable, weak man. Although Macbeth may not have many physical weaknesses he has many mental weaknesses. His mental weaknesses include impulsiveness, unsuspecting, and easily influenced. Some characters in Macbeth use Macbeth’s weaknesses in a negative way. Macbeth’s lack of mental strength makes him easily manipulated, over-trusting and impulsive, causing negativity, pain, and struggle in the play. The witches and Lady Macbeth easily manipulate Macbeth to kill Duncan, which causes struggle for Macbeth later in the play. The Witches say, “All hail, Macbeth, that shall be king hereafter!”(1.3.53).…show more content…
Macbeth made his first impulsive decision when he kills the two guards outside Duncan’s room, “O, yet I do repent me of my fury, / That I did kill them.” (2.3.124-25). Killing the guards was not part of the plan. Macbeth did not think this action through, even his explanation as to why he killed them was sloppy and that is what causes the struggle. Macduff does not buy the story that Macbeth has given, and eventually becomes a very big problem for Macbeth. When Macbeth when to see the Witches again he saw three apparitions, one told him to beware Macduff, and another told him to fear no man woman born, to this he replied, “O, yet I do repent me of my fury, / That I did kill them.” (2.3.124-25). Macbeth makes the impulsive decision to kill Macduff and his family, this action causes pain for both Macduff and Macbeth. Pain was caused for Macduff because his family was killed when he was in England. Pain was caused for Macbeth because Macduff was enraged from the death of his family and wanted revenge. The impulsive decisions were made by Macbeth because of his lack of mental…show more content…
Macbeth believes that he is truly invincible after seeing the apparitions, he even begins to mock his foes, by saying; “Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane / I cannot taint with fear. What’s the boy Malcom? / Was he not born of woman?” (5.3.2-4). Macbeth knows that an army is marching upon him, but he does nothing, he trusts the witches’ apparitions and believes that no harm will come to him. Macbeth trusts the witches so much that he thought he was invincible because no man born of woman shall harm Macbeth, “I bear a charmed life, which must not yield / To one of woman born.” (5.8.15-16), “Macduff was from his mother’s womb / Untimely ripped.” (5.8.19-20). Macduff was not born of woman his mother had a C-section. Macbeth was so confident that he was invincible he did not even bother to look at what could harm him. Macbeth focuses on what the witches and the apparitions said that he did not even begin to think that there was any deception in their words. The fact that Macbeth trusts the Witches too much, causes him pain because he thought he was invincible and because of that Macduff was able to kill him. Macbeth is over-trusting with people so leading him to become over-confident causing
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