How does Shakespeare demonstrate the power of the mind in Macbeth? Essay

Macbeth is a dramatic play famous for murder and its references to blood. It is usually associated with bad luck and evil however, at that place is one main issue that appears period and time again throughout the play what is it that drives the characters to do the things that they do? Shakespeare explores and presents the situation of the spirit in many interesting ways. These include soliloquies and push aside changes in characters such as the way they talk, act or present themselves.The main character affected by the power of his brain is, of course, Macbeth. What happens in his mind basically provides the plot for the whole play. in one case the witches have told Macbeth that he allow for be king he tush either choose to ignore this homo of information or do something about it to hire it come around faster. Macbeth chooses to do the latter and he bug outs the current king, Duncan. doll Macbeth becomes so caught up in the series of events and excited at the prospect of being Queen that she urges Macbeth on, encouraging him to fulfil his obvious destiny and become King. In the end, the way that Macbeth presents himself and talks is exclusively different to the character we are introduced to at the beginning of the play. This is all due to the effect his mind power has over him. We alike see changes in gentlewoman Macbeths character such as paranoia and s blank changes in the way she talks and thinks.The first evidence we see of mind power is in dress 1, image 3 where Macbeth meets the witches. Why do the witches prophecies in this scene have such power over Macbeth? Although Macbeth and Banquo hear the same thing, Macbeth is much much go by the words, and I think the main reason for this is that the witches are speaking Macbeths inner just about, dangerous thoughts. Once the witches say Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis (Macbeths current title) it becomes apparent to Macbeth that the witches are k right awayledgeable and are capable of predi cting the future. Shakespeare constructs the plot cleverly here. The dramatic irony of the audience knowing he has been crowned Thane of Cawdor ensures that the audience are already aware of what the witches can do ahead Macbeth realises.The tragedy is often blamed on the witches because they torment Macbeth by speaking his thoughts in riddles and they make Macbeth think that his superlative prize is near. However, the witches could solely have so much power over Macbeth if he already had these thoughts in his head. Therefore, Macbeth himself could be blamed for the tragedy of the play. If he had already thought about killing Banquo, but thought nothing of it until the witches had confirmed the idea, you could blame him entirely for the murder. The witches know what to say and exactly how to say it, which implies that they know what Macbeth is thinking. some other line in this scene which suggests that Macbeth had already thought about becoming King or killing Duncan is when he p leads with the witches toStay you imperfect speakers. Tell me much than.The item that he was willing to listen to more of what the witches had to say suggests that he had thought of becoming King onward and was reassured by the idea that it could really happen.Once the witches have vanished, Macbeth and Banquo visit Duncan at a room in his palace. Here, Duncan ap layers Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. It is here that Macbeth begins to fully realise the impact the witches words are having on him. He also sees that they knew what was going to happen to him because they had said, All hail Macbeth Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor in the previous scene. In a powerful soliloquy, Macbeth reveals his thoughts to the audienceStars, hide your firesLet not light see my black and deep desiresWith let not light see my black and deep desires Macbeth confirms that he has thought of becoming King before, but does not want to show it. When he was speaking with the witches he wasnt sure whether to believe what they were seeing and although he did think about the idea of becoming King, he never really pursued it. Once the prophecy of Macbeth becoming Thane Of Cawdor comes true, Macbeth realises that he will be king.In Act 1, scene 7 Macbeth is considering murdering Duncan but says there are many arguments against it. Some of the lines in this scene make me wonder whose initial idea the murder was and whether Macbeth really wanted to kill Duncan. Macbeth says he is enjoying the popular opinion of being famous and powerful but Lady Macbeths persuasion quickly works on himI am settled and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat.In the second act when Macbeth decides he is against the idea, the more persuasive Lady Macbeth is towards him, the more Macbeth submits to her taunting When you durst do it, then you were a manAnd, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man.By the end of the scene, Macbeth has been made to feel so inferior by Lady Macbeth that he has taken over the planning himself. Macbeth plans to blame the murder on the two guards in Duncans chamberWill it not be receivd,When we have markd with blood those sleepy twoOf his own chamber, and usd their very daggers,That they have donet?Temporarily, Macbeth has lost his enquiry and fear in the excitement of planning the murder.Perhaps the most famous act of mind power in this play, is the dagger Macbeth sees in Act 2, Scene 1. It is late at nighttime in the castle and Macbeth meets Banquo and Banquos son Fleance. Banquo wants to talk about the witches prophecies to Macbeth. Banquo says that he has dreamt of the sisters and seems to be annoyed because they have showed Macbeth some truth. on the nose as the three Weird Sisters predicted, Macbeths wishes and secret dreams of power have all come true. But along with these, so have his darkest fears.Throughout the play Macbeth continues to struggle against the images his mind conjures up against his own conscious will. Althoug h technically, he has won the crown and been successful, he cannot enjoy himself because of the immense guilt he feels over how his mind has been poisoned by the Weird Sisters. The dagger scene is an passing powerful example of mind power. Shakespeare uses metaphors, imagery and other dramatic cues to express Macbeths emotions and fear. Probably the most well known line in the play, upon seeing the dagger Macbeth says to himself,Is this a dagger I see before me,The handle toward my hand?Macbeth realises that the dagger is only a vision created by his mind, in this question he is questioning his mind asking himself whether what he is seeing is real or a figment of his imagination. He continues,art thou butA dagger of the mind,The way Shakespeare has written Macbeths speech make it seem so much more realistic. Because this play would first have been performed in a Jacobean theatre, there would have been no special effects in the theatre to emphasise the visions Macbeths mind were c reating throughout the play. The actors would of course had to have been talented to pull off such playing without props, but the choice of words Shakespeare uses it what makes it so much more believable.Act 2 Scene 3 is the morning afterward the murder. In this scene Macbeth shows a variety of different emotions so it is difficult to tell what he is feeling about the murder. Also, what Macbeth says in this scene is quite ambiguous so it is quite hard to figure out what he means. When Macbeth says Twas a rough night it could either mean that he is shocked by the nights events or that he fears being found out. And when Macbeth saysHad I but died an hour before this chance I had lived a blessed time it is relatively easy to see that he feels guilty and regrets the murder. Another change in Macbeths speech is that his statements seem to be shorter and more formal. This suggests that he is on edge and is worried about being found out. In this scene, Macbeth also decides to start actin g secretly, and does not communicate his plans with Lady Macbeth Be innocent of the knowledge till though applaud the deed.Another major demonstration of mind power in the play is when Macbeth conjures up the image of Banquos ghost at the banquet in Act 3, Scene 4. Thinking about why Macbeth is so tense and anxious when he enters the room helps you to understand how his mind could have conjured up the terrible image of the ghost. Macbeth is obviously worried and guilt-ridden about Banquos murder, he saysI had else been perfect but now, I am bound in to saucy doubts and fears.Banquo was Macbeths best friend, and Macbeth had ordered him to be killed. He need both Banquo and Fleance to be killed, but Fleance escaped. Macbeth excluding his wife from the plans is putting extra pressure on him, not to mention the relationship between the two. The banquet is the first voice that Macbeth organises when he is appointed King. Therefore, he needs his guests to feel that he is a good King a nd is control of the banquet. When Macbeth sees the ghost and everything starts to go wrong, Macbeth is desperate to calm his authorised guests so that they do not think of him as not being a fitting King.The ghost in Act 3, scene 4 has an extremely powerful effect on Macbeth. He goes through different stages of acceptance, first cowering from it, then challenging it and ultimately, confronting it.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 stoolsMacbeths fear of the ghost is completely natural. He cannot understand how Banquo could have reappeared, especially after having just been informed of his death. He challenges the ghost, Hence, horrible shadow Unreal mockery, hence Macbeth confronts the ghost,Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is coldThou hast no speculation in those eyes,Which thou dost glare with.The ghost disappears at these words and Macbe th seems to have won by confrontation. Macbeth returns to his guests. Macbeth doesnt realise that no one else in the room can see the things he is imagining he assumes that they saw the ghost and is surprised by their apparent failure to react to it,now I think you can recognize such sights, ands keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, when mine is blanched with fear.The sleepwalking scene is one in which Shakespeare demonstrates mind power through actions very well. Lady Macbeth is subconsciously ridden with guilt over the deaths. When she sleepwalks we see her vigorously washing her hands to scrub Duncans blood from her hands and asking no one in particularwho would have thought the oldman to have had so much blood in him?Of course, Lady Macbeth does not still have Duncans blood on her hands it is only her imagination making her think she needs to scrub her hands clean all the perfumesof Arabia will not change taste this little hand.Lady Macbeth is usually seen as dominant over M acbeth, she tries to seem stronger than Macbeth and hides her fear, guilt and shame as much as possible. The way that Lady Macbeth weakens when incognizant creates a very powerful image of mind power. By scrubbing her hands over and over again we can guess that, rather than exhausting to rid her hands of blood, she is actually trying to rid her mind of the memories of the night of Duncans murder. The doctor who has been called to help Lady Macbeth says that the disease is beyond his practice and that more needs she the divine than the physician. meaning that she has more need for a priest than a doctor to rid her of her evil disease. Lady Macbeth leaves the room briefly after muttering that whats done cannot be undone and repeating that she must go to bed. The doctor continues trying to analyse Lady Macbeths disease and confides in her gentlewoman, telling her thatFoul whisprings are abroadinfected mindsTo their desensitise pillows will discharge their secrets.The doctor knows L ady Macbeth is hiding something when he says deaf pillows it suggests that people reveal their secrets to pillows because they are deaf and therefore cannot hear or repeat what they have done. Shakespeares use of language is just as important as the actions of the characters in showing how powerful their minds are.Macbeth seems weary when he is told of Lady Macbeths death She should have died hereafterThere would have been a time for such a word.It is a strange reaction he is suddenly quiet, thoughtful and almost subdued. His drive and motivation disappear. Macbeth no longer sees any point in trying to hold on to the kingship, and does not understand why he ever wanted it.life is a taleTold by an idiot, full of telephone and fury,Signifying nothingMacbeth also thinks that his time is coming to an end and he will die soon. He says that his actions in the past have lighted the fools way to frigid death.It seems as though, no matter what happens from this point on in the play, Macb eth can no longer return to being the person he was before the Witches poisoned and taunted him with ambition. On the battlefield, Act 5, Scene 8 Macbeth dares each man on the battlefield to kill him in the face of his seemingly infallible prophecy.Why should I play the Roman fool, and dieOn mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashesDo better upon them.Roman generals in defeat would appoint suicide to avoid the disgrace of capture, but, in this speech Macbeth says that while he can see living enemies, he will do his best to kill them. He continues taunting his enemies until Macduff kills him. Macbeth finds out that Macduff was from his mothers womb untimely ripped which is what the Witches told Macbeth earlier in the play. At this point, Macbeth realises his life has come to an end and knows that he will not survive the fight with Macduff, however he is brave enough to fight on to the end.An interesting idea is to think about who was truly responsible for the tragedy in Macbet h, other than the witches. Macbeth himself had already thought about the kingship before being told by the Witches that he could achieve it and listens willingly to what the Witches tell him. However, when the plan has been hatched, Macbeth begins to bum off until Lady Macbeth taunts him enough to convince him to take over the planning again, which he eventually does. Also, many of Macbeths speeches are filled with threats, evil and darkness. heading power plays a large part in Macbeths character having already thought of the kingship, he was really only waiting for confirmation from someone else before acting on his thoughts.Lady Macbeth also plays a major role in the tragedy. She becomes obsessed with the news she is sent by Macbeth, and immediately hatches a plan to achieve the goal. Her speeches, not dissimilar to Macbeths, are also full of darkness and double meanings. When Macbeth backs down and is not so sure about the plan, she taunts him until she finally persuades him to continue. It is also Lady Macbeth who takes the knives back down to the servants after the murder and tried to make everything normal again. Lady Macbeth is big(p)ly affected by her mind, which we see peculiarly in the sleepwalking scene where she continually washes and rubs her hands in an attempt to scrub away what she believes to be Banquos blood.At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a great man. After meeting the Weird Sisters he begins to make bad choices and gets everything wrong. The effect the three Witches have on Macbeths subconscious mind is astonishing they make him see things, hear things and do things he doesnt really want to do. Along with Lady Macbeth, the Witches taunting and riddles possess Macbeth and turn him into a power-obsessed, ambition-crazed fiend. However, Macbeth fixs himself at the end of his life and does not die as the villain of the play. Macbeth is a tragic hero possessed by evil thoughts, but able to redeem himself by being brave enough t o fight on to the end, even though he knows he cannot win back his sanity and/or sleep of mind.