Macbeth †a Study of the Criminal Mind Essay

Shakespeare delves straight into the theme of murder and the train of the whitlow mind. The trio of witches subtly expose themselves to be concocting a devious contrive in the first scene itself. When the hurly-burlys done. When the battles missed and won. That will be ere the set of sun. Where the place? Upon the heath. There to meet with Macbeth. (I. i. 3-7) As the play progresses, Shakespeare reveals the underlying causes for the murders unless st each(prenominal)s the unsettling outcomes, the effect of being a criminal. Each of the main characters in Macbeth contribution to the central theme grows end-to-end the play.The deuce-ace Witches and wench Macbeths manipulation of Macbeth and the growing insanity of the duad is an example of such cause and effect and can be related to to real life. The Three Witches or the weird sisters, skulk like colored thoughts and unconscious temptations to evil. Their cunning stems from their paranormal powers however, their true ability lies in exploiting the weaknesses of their interlocutors. contempt their absurdity through comical yet malevolent rhyme, are intelligibly the most dangerous characters in the play, being powerful and wicked.However, the audience is unexpended to question the witches allegiance. They could be autonomous, toying with the military man emotions, or agents of destiny who prophesize the inevitable. The weird Sisters seem to have an intentional resemblance to characters in Greek mythology cognize as the Fates. They too were one-third sisters who controlled the metaphorical thread of life of both mortal from life to death. The Weird Sisters control the thread of life of all the major characters in the play, and it is in their power to do what they want to them. The prophecies foretold by the witches are seemingly self-fulfilling.Macbeth may not have murdered mogul Duncan if he was not pushed to do so by the witches, the night he and Banquo met the witches on the moor and had their futures told. The thane of Cawdor lives. A prosperous gentleman and to be might stands not within the prospect of belief. No much than to be Cawdor. secernate from whence you owe this strange intelligence? Or why upon this diabolic heath you stop our way with such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you. (I. iii. 72-78) Shakespeare come toers no easy answers in the play. He keeps these witches outside the limits of homo comprehension.They embody an unreasoning, instinctive evil that of a criminal mind. Lady Macbeth is already plotting the murder of King Duncan as we first catch sight of her in the play. Even from this, it can be seen that she is more cunning, more ruthless and more ambitious than her save. Lady Macbeth wishes that she were a man, and could carry out the deed herself but she is aware that is not possible. Thus, she must push Macbeth into committing the crime for her. The link between gender and power is a key feature to Lady Macbeths character as Macbeth sugg ests that she is quite masculine and is limited because she had inhabited a female body.This creates a relationship between masculinity and ambition and furiousness (in some cases murder). Lady Macbeth and the witches are used by Shakespeare to emasculate Macbeths idea For thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males (I. vii. 73-74). These astute women apply female methods to achieve power and control. Manipulation of their husbands will thence further their desires. Shakespeare implies that men do not have to be the barely ones who are cruel and power see king but women also. Due to neighborly limitations however, they are unable to pursue their ambitions.Macbeth feels the need to commit the murder to rise himself to his wife as she is able to manipulate him with noteworthy effectiveness. Lady Macbeth questions his world continually as inside, Macbeth is quite frail. He hesitates at first, but gives in as she overrides his protestations. Lady Macbeth stays stable as King Duncan is murder, and it is she who steadies her husband after the crime has been perpetrated. Shortly afterward, she begins to spiral down into insanity respectable as aspiration affected her more strongly than Macbeth before the murder, does blameworthiness plague her more strongly afterward.Toward the end of the play, she is sleepwalking through the castle, try to wash away the guilt that stains her. Her sensitivity to the act becomes her one weakness. Lady Macbeth then kills herself, showing her inability to deal with their crimes. The initial impression of Macbeth is a brave, strong and capable man, as we first heard of him in the maimed captains account. This notion is becomes problematic once he encounters the three witches. It can be seen that Macbeths physical courage is joined by a tendency to self doubt the prophecy that foretold him to be king brings him joy but also creates inner turmoil.He is manipulated into committing murders that he doesnt truly want to d o. Macbeth however, hides his feelings as he says I am settled, and play up each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the beat with fairest show False face must hide what the false feeling doth know. (I. vii. 79 82) He fluctuates between fits of fevered action, in which he plots a serial of murders to secure his throne, and moments of terrible guilt (as when Banquos ghost appears) and lordly pessimism (after his wifes death, when he seems to succumb to despair).Shakespeare uses Macbeth to show the terrible do that ambition and guilt can have on a human who lacks strength in character. Often, examples in real life start off with an innocent person who is mentally incapable of handling such a thing, and is influenced by something in their lives. With this in mind, Shakespeares Macbeth truly is a study of the criminal mind. It can be seen through the inner workings of the Three Witches, the manipulation by Lady Macbeth and the growing insanity of both Macbeth an d his wife, as they are not able to cope with the guilt of committing a series of crimes.