Macbeth: The Mind Of A Murderer
...by a writer. Authors across the globe have tried to grasp their hands on the line that a murderer crosses when making his first kill. One of the most complex murderers in literatures history is Macbeth of Shakespeare's Macbeth. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is introduced as an ambitious, valiant warrior who cares for both his country and his people. Soon after the beginning of the play, Macbeth is corrupted by the prediction of the 3 witches that he will soon be king. As the play progresses, Macbeth is driven to kill Duncan, and from there he hires 3 murderers to kill Banquo and Macduffs wife, along with everyone in his house. It is a common theory that from the beginning, Macbeth was corrupted and insane, wanting nothing but power. However, Macbeth was never insane- only paranoid after his first kill. Through the course of the play, Macbeth goes from a noble warrior to a paranoid murderer- and this paranoia is what drives him to kill.
Macbeth's first step in committing murder is when the witches predict his rule over Cawdor and the thought of killing King Duncan initially crosses his mind. "All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter," (Act 1. sc. 3 line 53), with this prophecy begins Macbeths thoughts of murder. Bewildered yet captivated by these words, Macbeth begs to hear more just before the witches vanish. As soon as Ross informs Macbeth that he is Thane of Cawdor (as the witches predicted), Macbeth begins to think of what he can to help the witches next foretelling come true. Soon after this, Macbeth wonders whether he will have to perform a murder in order to gain the position as king. At this point, Macbeth is captivated by the power offered to him by this new position, and is overcome with the thirst for power. However, dissimilar to what most would do, Macbeth fixates on this prophecy and it begins to take over his life. This...
View Full Essay