Essay On The Role Of Mental Capacity In Macbeth

The capability of the human mind is convoluted and still not understood to this day. In the modern day, mental capacity plays a key role in the verdict of most criminal trials. The association of mental disease and disorientation plays a key role in the trial of Macbeth. Through the role of the witches, Lady Macbeth, and the scene of the killing, it clearly indicates the vulnerability of Macbeth's mental state, therefore making him not guilty of the murder of the King of Scotland by Georgia law of “delusional compulsion” (G.C. 16-3-3). The initial role of the witches in as magical and mythical creatures plays a major role in determining the mental capacity of Macbeth. The overwhelming belief that the witches exists in one indicator of Macbeth’s mental disability. Upon meeting the witches for the first time, they tell Macbeth about the three prophecies in which he is destined. As the witches disappear suddenly, Banquo, a noble man of Scotland, inquires if, “[they’ve]

Lady Macbeth, a greedy, vindictive woman, is set to raise her status in the Scottish nobility. Believing her husband is “too full o’th’milk of human kindness,” she decides to inflict emotional pain on Macbeth to lessen his reserve (1.5.15). She says to Macbeth that, “to alter favour ever is to fear,” mocking his mercurial behaviour as a sign of “fear” (1.6.70). Lady Macbeth continues to coerce her husband to kill Duncan by mocking his undecided nature by calling him “drunk” and commenting on his “green and pale” appearance as a sign of illness (1.7.35-37). Continuing with the insults she claims that, “when [he] durst do it, then [he] were a man,” which considering the times, femininity was considered a weakness (1.7.49). Lady Macbeth’s intensive compulsion tactics, I believe, made Macbeth mentally unstable which subsequently allowed for his delusional state to