What is This I See Before Me? :: essays research papers

What is This I See Before Me?Macbeths visions seem to be a face of his growing guilt and insatiable ambition. He is being driven to madness by his own actions. The first time we see this phenomena is just forward Macbeth goes to eat Duncan at this time he refers to a bloody dagger that seems to be floating in the air before him. This is a prelude to all that leave alvirtuoso come. Just after he commits his first murderous sin Macbeth claims to hear voices in the chambers crying out, sleep no more, Macbeth does murder sleep and, Macbeth shall sleep no more (57). These mystic voices turn out to be quite prophetic. Again after Macbeth has ordered the murder of Banquo he sees a vision of the stillborn mans ghost sitting at Macbeths table, in fact in his very chair, a gesture that can be seen to have more that one meaning. All of these visions seem to be nothing more than fabrications of his own tortured conscience. They serve as vehicles for his uncouth intrusts and as reminders of his unhappy deeds. It seems that the two people or so affected by these hallucinations are Macbeth and his wife. He obviously is most directly affected but after a while it becomes clear that they are winning there toll on her as well. Three of the major visions or hallucinations in the play were the dagger, the voices, and Banquos ghost. Is this a dagger I see before me the handle towards my hand? Come let me clutch thee (51). Macbeth speaks these words as he stands waiting for the correct time to carry out his first bloody deed. Covered with blood and pointed toward the kings chamber, the dagger represents the bloody course on which Macbeth is about to embark. (Macbeth Study Guide) It also seems to be a catalyst for his desire to kill Duncan in order to inherit the kingship. Macbeth sees the dagger as a sign that he shall proceed with this wicked night. Thou marshalst me the way that I was going, and such an instrument I was to use. (53) The primary difference between this h allucination and those that followed is that this time Macbeth knows that it isnt real. He seems fascinated by it, but aware(predicate) that it is only a dagger of the mind, a false creation (53). He even suggests that it is a product of a heat-oppressed brain (53).