Human Nature In Shakespeare's Macbeth

In Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, the author conveys the nature and choices of humans using the literary elements fate, internal struggles, and the supernatural in order to demonstrate how humans can be corrupted and affected by the grandeur or fear of their future. The actions and thoughts of Macbeth in the play are a great example of these things and give a demonstration of human nature when confronted with things such as murder, prophecies, and knowledge of their downfall. Macbeth is a story that serves to show the effects of fate and how it affects their own attitude and actions.

Macbeth being the main character of the play leads to the audience being able to see his character and mental state revealed extensively throughout

Many times in the story he has a mental breakdown or starts seeing the ghosts of those he killed, most notably Banquo, who he was very close to but had to kill so he could not share the prophecy from the witches. Macbeth hosts a party on the night that Banquo is murdered and Macbeth start seeing Banquo’s ghost. Macbeth even tries to justify the murder and doesn’t understand why a ghost is there as he says “The time has been that, when the brains were out, the man would die, and there an end. But now they rise again with twenty mortal murders on their crowns and push us from our stools. This is more strange than such a murder is.” which shows Macbeth’s confusion on how he is seeing the ghost and that seeing the ghost is more wrong than the murder itself (III,iv,78-83). Another point where Macbeth’s mind is at the breaking point is when he says “ |I have almost forgot the tatse of fears. The time had been my senses would have cooled to hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir as life were in ‘t. I have supped full with horrors. Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts, Cannot once start me.” Which is Macbeth realizing how cruel he has been and that a scream at night no longer frightens him but since he has murdered so many it no longer affects him (V,v,9-15). This

A good example is how Macbeth responds when he learns that he will be king he considers killing Duncan but he thinks “He’s here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself.” Which shows how he was at first hesitant to murder Duncan and thinks he should just wait and see what happens (I.vii,12-16). Lady Macbeth is told the prophecy and decides that the best course of action would be to murder the King now and they would then take the throne. Macbeth agrees to this and the murder begins the course of events that lead to their doom. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth originally are praising of the witches and is pleased that the prophecy was true and that he is king. However, this turns to hate for the witches as he is double crossed by them and they start telling him prophecies such as “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” Which gives him a false sense of security that eventually is ruined by learning that Macduff was cut out of the womb instead of a regular birth (IV,I,79-81). The double meanings of the witches’ prophecies are always learned to late by Macbeth and one that originally gives hope to Macbeth