Does guilt and misguided ambition lead to hallucinations causing the fall of Macbeth? Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare written between 1603 and 1607. The play is set in Scotland and tells the story of Macbeth, a brave man who believes he can become the King of Scotland. The road to becoming king proves to be difficult and the process can be poor for mental health. Macbeth’s hallucinations prove that guilt leads to a decline in the person’s mental health that can lead to serious consequences, like King Macbeth’s death. Guilt and anxiety causes Macbeth to have a false perception of reality, making him see a bloody dagger. “Hallucinations share many qualities with guilt, shame, and anxiety, including a seemingly involuntary hold over individuals, making them compliant with …show more content…
As a result, hallucinations have a connection with guilt, shame, and anxiety causing low self control. Hallucinations happen most when deep thoughts or feelings in your mind come back to memory. “Hallucinations represent a breakthrough of pre conscious or unconscious material into consciousness in response to certain psychological situations and needs, e.g., wish fulfillment, enhancement of self-esteem, guilt feelings” (Brodie). Macbeth hallucinates his former friend Banquo as a ghost sitting in a chair at a feast. His hallucinations are caused by his conscience reminding him that he murdered his former friend. Hallucinations can be caused by feeling guilty about yourself for past actions. Macbeth's obsession with power causes Macbeth to feel guilty and lose his consciousness. “Macbeth deigns to be an incorrigible regicide, but his ambition is ultimately overpowered by his conscience. This aporetic conflict is ultimately fatal to his morality and sense of self” (Tirban). Macbeth stubbornly commits the crime of murder, but his desire for power is overwhelmed by his