Macbeth

" Ambition soon begins to cloud the thoughts of Macbeth. Before long the only thing he can think about is becoming a greater person than what he is. One night while Duncan is a guest in his castle, Macbeth begins to hallucinate. He sees a dagger before him and speaks: "Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell, that summons thee to heaven or to hell". At this point, Macbeth has given into the ambition that has poisoned his mind, and brutally murders the king of Scotland so that he may succeed Duncan. After the killing Duncan's son, Donalbain, speaks to his brother Malcolm; "To Ireland, I; our separated fortune, Shall keep us both the safer: where we are, There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood, the nearer bloody." Malcolm agrees and decides to go to England. Suddenly Macbeth has become very paranoid, in fear of being accused of regicide. Macbeth is now dreadfully afraid that Banquo and his son Fleance will attempt to take over his throne, as Banquo is to father a line of kings. To solve this problem, Macbeth assigns three murderers to kill both Banquo and Fleance, so that the genes of Banquo will never touch the crown. All goes as planned, until at his own dinner party where he has invited many of his friends, Macbeth beings to hallucinate once again, only this time about his murdered comrade Banquo. Everyone at the table becomes very curious about the way Macbeth is acting, and they decide to leave at once. It is evident that at this point Macbeth has crossed the line from paranoia into pure insanity. After his company has departed, Macbeth suddenly realizes that Macduff did not make an appearance at his festivity. This worries him greatly as Macduff could be plotting the downfall of his ruling. He then decides to go and visit the witches once again, so that he may know more of what is to come.