Macbeth's Loss Of Power

World leaders such as, dictators, presidents, prime ministers, and monarchies have done all kinds of things to gain and maintain power. Coups and assassination are a few of the ways people get to power. These acts of treason are common and seen in modern literature and television. However, it takes a certain personality and character to commit these kinds of heinous crimes. William Shakespeare’s play, “Macbeth” focuses on the assassination of the king and the Thane of Glamis, Lord Macbeth taking his place. The choices that Macbeth made along with characters like, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, and Macduff influenced his gain and loss of power. In “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, guilt and madness were the most influential in Macbeth’s downfall as indisputable

Moments like these test everyone and what we do in response to these events is something we cannot manipulate or fake. Everyone responds differently and in most causes murder and death brings upon raw and primitive instincts. Committing a crime takes time and patience, to plan and accept that you are taking a life. In the play, Macbeth takes no time in considering what he will be doing. Leading up to the murder Macbeth talks in respect to Duncan and he goes through with the murder because Lady Macbeth questions his manhood. Succeeding King Duncan’s death, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth speak regarding the noises and who is in the room neighboring King Duncan’s and he says to her, “But wherefore could not I pronounce ”Amen“? / I had most need of blessing, and ”Amen“ / Stuck in my throat” (II.ii. 42-44). Killing King Duncan makes a simple greeting and blessing difficult for Macbeth to say. This is a sign of remorse because Macbeth’s actions may be acceptable in his wife’s mind, but he has not accepted his actions. When Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to cover the guardsmen with blood, he responds with, “I’ll go no more. / I am afraid to think what I have done. / Look on ’t again I dare not” (II.ii. 65-67). Macbeth can not go back to the scene of the crime, yet it is to cover up his own tracks. His decision to not go back to the scene of the crime is another sign of remorse. As a soldier Macbeth has killed many men before, yet he

A floating dagger was the first vision Macbeth had, but he knew it was not real because he could not touch it. At this point Macbeth can see the difference between fantasy and reality. Along with these hallucinations comes a sense of paranoia, he begins he question everything and he makes simple noises something that they are not. Instantly after he commits the murder, he leaves and whispers to himself, “Who’s there? What, ho!” (II.ii. 12) Paranoia sets in minutes following Macbeth kills King Duncan, as visible by his agitation and sensitivity to noise. This paranoia leads to extra hallucinations. The paranoia is so strong that Macbeth shifts his focus to whatever the hallucination is. Amid the banquet Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo and tells him, “Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake / Thy gory locks at me” (III. iv. 61-62). Considering that Macbeth murdered both King Duncan and his best friend, Banquo, he has a mental breakdown. During this breakdown Macbeth sees Banquo sitting at the table and although the ghost does not say anything to him his presence causes Macbeth to deny that he can prove he had him killed. Although all he did was reveal that he does have something to do with the murders. Seeing a ghost of Banquo and believing in unrealistic things is evidence that proves Macbeth’s guilt is driving him