madness

• Macbeth's hallucinations


  Macbeth experiences hallucinations, particularly after he murders King Duncan. He sees the ghost of Banquo at the banquet, which reveals his guilt and inner turmoil. These hallucinations suggest a descent into madness as he grapples with the consequences of his actions.
• Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking


  Lady Macbeth's descent into madness is manifested through her sleepwalking. In her sleepwalking scenes, she compulsively washes her hands, trying to rid herself of the metaphorical bloodstains of Duncan's murder. Her actions demonstrate the psychological toll of their crimes.
• Paranoia and delusions


  Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become increasingly paranoid as the play progresses. Macbeth becomes obsessed with maintaining his power and starts to see threats everywhere, leading him to commit more murders. This paranoia reflects his deteriorating mental state.
• Loss of control and rationality


  As the play unfolds, Macbeth loses control over his actions and becomes more irrational. He becomes reckless in his pursuit of power and shows little regard for the consequences. This loss of control is a hallmark of his descent into madness.
• Isolation


  Macbeth becomes increasingly isolated as the play progresses. He loses the trust of his allies and becomes estranged from his wife. This isolation contributes to his sense of alienation and adds to his descent into madness.
• "Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" - Lady Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 1): Lady Macbeth's guilt manifests as she tries to rid herself of the metaphorical bloodstains on her hands, symbolizing her descent into madness.
• "Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?" - Macbeth (Act 2, Scene 1): Macbeth's hallucination of a dagger represents his inner turmoil and suggests his descent into madness fueled by ambition.
• "By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes." - Second Witch (Act 4, Scene 1): This line foreshadows Macbeth's arrival and emphasizes the supernatural element that contributes to his descent into madness.
• "Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more." - Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5): Here, Macbeth reflects on the fleeting nature of life, illustrating his nihilistic perspective as he descends further into madness.
• "Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble." - Witches (Act 4, Scene 1): This chant highlights the witches' role in manipulating Macbeth's fate and contributing to the chaos and madness that ensue.