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Hallucinations In Macbeth

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If someone told you your future, would you be able to ignore it, or would you do anything in your power to make it come true? In the play The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, he has many different scenario's where he is faced with the supernatural. This causes him to have to make some really tough decisions and in order for his future to come true, he feels he has to do some very sinister deeds. Throughout the play, Macbeth is faced with witches, hallucinations, and ghosts that try to alter his future. The supernatural plays a huge role throughout Macbeth and it motivates him to make many poor decisions. The three witches are the first supernatural force that Macbeth encounters in the play and they are the whole reason Macbeth decides …show more content…

Hallucinations begin to take over his true thoughts. Before Macbeth is going to kill King Duncan, he hallucinates and sees a floating dagger, "There's no such thing. It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes."(2.1.48-50). After Macbeth sees the dagger he believes that it is a sign pointing him in the direction of killing the king. This is the first of many hallucinations that Macbeth has. In addition, after the murderous deed is done, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth believe the blood that is left on their hands will not wash off. They believe they're hands are stained red, "What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes! Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red."(2.2.58-62). After committing such a horrid crime, Macbeth and his wife are trying to hold themselves together and make sure nobody finds out what they have done. Without the floating dagger Macbeth may not have followed through with the plan, and then they both wouldn't be cracking under pressure. As Macbeth gets deeper and deeper in his lies, his hallucinations grow into …show more content…

The witches, Banquo’s ghost, hallucinations, and paranoia all work together to contribute to the decisions that Macbeth and his wife make. If you were able to predict your future, to what extent would you go to make it come

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