Mental State In Macbeth

In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Macbeth, the reader can clearly note the decline in Macbeth’s mental state. As the play progresses one can undoubtedly see Macbeth’s mental state degrading as his thoughts become increasingly dark, anxious, desperate, and laced with insecurities. Shakespeare’s writing effectively conveys Macbeth’s state of mind by using various literary devices, imagery, as well as the presence of Lady Macbeth to provide contrasting thoughts to that of Macbeth, allowing the reader to clearly observe and understand Macbeth’s state of mind throughout the scene. By using literary devices, Shakespeare is able to convey the thoughts of Macbeth in a way that is easy for the reader to understand. As the scene begins to advance, Macbeth, talking to his wife, begins to outline the object of his declining mental state through a metaphor, “We have scorched the snake, not killed it.” In this quote Macbeth speaks to the murder of King

“Better be with the dead” Here Macbeth says that it is best that he be with King Duncan in the grave, rather than alive and having to cope with his mental instabilities. The reader can note the dark nature of these thoughts, which is further evidence into the declining mental health of Macbeth. “Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,” It is here that the irony is seen in the sense that out of desperation for the Kingship Macbeth had killed King Duncan with the intention obtaining freedom from his evil thoughts, “Than on the torture of the mind to lie” Instead however, Macbeth has been the opposite of serene as he is still troubled by malignant thoughts. The reader can note that Macbeth himself acknowledges the decline in his state of mind as he speaks to “the torture of the mind” Shakespeare makes it apparent that Macbeth is fighting a mental battle with himself, and is obviously