Dakota Belle, Devin Callaway, Sydney Greer, Jordan Hoelseher, Kelsey Alford

Sickness and Health in

Macbeth

Macbeth became sick in his mind due to the witches prophecy telling him that one day he would become king. He wanted the power so badly it led him to kill. As the play progressed

his conscience slowly disintegrated and he became emotionally numb.

Sickness Of Macbeth

“The Illness should attend to it” – Lady Macbeth

Illness is EvilLady Macbeth is his motivator

She says he needs the mental illness to commit the murders

He uses his mental illness to do things that he wouldn’t be comfortable doing in the right

state of mind

Act 1 Scene 5 Line 18

“Bloody instructions, which being taught return to plague the inventor”. – Macbeth

‘What goes around comes around’He wishes sickness to other people to keep

him on topHe knew it was going to come back to him in

the end

Act 1 Scene 7 Line 9

“And wakes it now, to look so green and pale” – Lady Macbeth

Green is sickly Lady Macbeth says he looks sick thinking of

Duncan’s Murder.Macbeth was phased and wasn’t fully okay

with killing his good friend.

Act 1 Scene 7 Line 37

“Who wear our health but sickly in his life, which in his death were perfect” - Macbeth

Macbeth felt sick from the presence of Banqou

As long as Banquo was alive then Macbeth would be sick

If Banqou were to die then Macbeth would be safe.

Act 3 Scene 1 Line 107

“The great bond, which keeps me pale!” - Macbeth

The great bond is the bond between Banquo and his son, Fleance

He was afraid Fleance would take his power because his father died

Act 3 Scene 3

“His highness is not well” - Ross(Banquet scene when Macbeth sees the

ghost)Ross said that he was sick in the mind

Revealed Macbeth’s true character: Guilty and Unstable

Act 3 Scene 4

“ Thou shalt not live, that I may tell pale hearted fear it lies” - Macbeth

Macbeth knows he may die but hi is trying to convince himself otherwise

Shows that he is emotionally numb and conscience is deteriorating

Act 4 Scene 1

In the beginning of the story it appears that Lady Macbeth is sure of herself and her actions, but it also appears that she has no remorse for her actions and their consequences. Later in the story she becomes overwhelmed with a mental illness and eventually kills herself. One can assume this has to do with the part she plays in the numerous murders her husband commits.

Sickness of Lady Macbeth

“Make think my blood; stop up th’ access and passage to remorse” – Lady Macbeth

She did not want to feel remorse/guiltShe wants to be sick so she doesn’t have to

feel bad about her actionsShe wants to believe she can shut off her

guilt, but in reality is too unstable to such

Act 1 Scene 5 Line 41

Doctor “This disease is beyond my practice”He doesn’t believe that her instability is

curable. She has to fix herself alone

After she has visions of blood staining her hands

This shows the guilt she feels for her role in Macbeth’s actions

Act 5 Scene 1 Line 50

“ Not so sick my lord, as she is troubled with think coming fancies that keep her from rest” - Doctor

“Cure her of that. Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased” - MacbethMacbeth is learning his wife is mentally ill.Macbeth asked the doctor if he could cure her but that doctor thinks her mind is too far

gone

Act 5 Scene 3 Line 38

Under Macbeth’s rule the country of Scotland plummeted down. He was not a good ruler and that showed in the peoples’ reactions and what they went through after he became king. He did not want to become king to help the people and the country but purely for the power and the title.

Sickness of the Country

“Love and health to all!” - Macbeth(Banquet Scene)

Macbeth is wishing good health to all that are visiting his castle and the court.

It is ironic that he is wishing health to people while he has killed others.

Act 3 Scene 4

Fin.