Macbeth's Mental Deterioration
After Duncan's murder, Macbeth's mind becomes consumed by guilt and paranoia, leading to complete psychological breakdown. His famous line about life being "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" shows how regicide has drained all meaning from his existence.
The metaphor of having "scorpions in my mind" reveals how deadly thoughts now poison his every moment. These creatures represent the violent, corrupt desires that have taken control of his sanity, making peace impossible.
Macbeth's hallucinations and inability to process his crimes demonstrate the psychological consequences of defying the Divine Right of Kings. In Shakespeare's time, audiences believed witches could corrupt minds, making Macbeth's madness seem like supernatural punishment.
His obsession with maintaining power through more violence creates a vicious cycle where each murder demands another. The guilt from killing Duncan transforms him from a noble warrior into a paranoid tyrant who trusts no one.
Key Point: Macbeth's mental state deteriorates rapidly as guilt and paranoia consume him, showing how evil acts corrupt the mind completely.