The Human Psyche in Macbeth - Essay Example

The Human Psyche in Macbeth Introduction Macbeth is an intriguing play by Shakespeare, which focuses on a tragic end. The play depicts Macbeth as a successful warrior exhibiting high levels of loyalty to King Duncan in the beginning. However, Macbeth’s encounter with the witches serves to alter his disposition completely because it triggers his desire for power. According to Sigmund Freud, the human psyche comprises of three parts with one of them describing the endless pursuit of pleasure and power. Macbeth exhibits an ongoing conflict between the three different parts of his human psyche, as this paper will highlight. Macbeth is one of the loyal warriors of the king who successfully fights the battles. However, Macbeth encounters three witches who make prophesies and declarations that he would become the king of Scotland. In addition, they highlight that Macbeth would have the title of the “Thane of Cawdor”. The witches’ prophesies serve to convince Macbeth that his future is destined to be different. Macbeth is well aware that the reigning king is of character and honor. Although he is with Banguo when he encounters the witches who make the prophecies, he takes them more seriously that his fellow warrior. Coincidentally, a short while after the encounter with the witches, Macbeth meets with messengers from the king who confirm to him that he has obtained the title, “Thane of Cawdor”. The fulfillment of the first prophesies by the witches serves to convince Macbeth that the other prophecies would also materialize (Leggatt 3). He discloses prophecy to his wife who convinces him that he has to manipulate things to his favor so that the prophecy would materialize. It is at this point that Macbeth begins to plot the death of the king and all the potential obstacles to the throne. He does not only kill the king, but goes further to kill Banguo and his sons, whom the witches mention to be the potential heirs to the throne. Sigmund Freud highlights the three different parts of the human psyche in his book titled Civilization and its Discontents. The first of the human psyche is the id, whose pursuit of pleasure and power has no limit. The id drives an individual to seek self-interest, even if that means hurting other people. On the other hand, the ego is the outstanding part of the psyche that helps an individual have a connection with reality. Unlike the id, which unconsciously seeks the fulfillment of the pleasure principle, the ego serves as a mediator between the id and the superego, which is the third part. According to Freud, the superego is responsible for defining what is wrong through feelings of shame, anxiety, and depression. The three aspects of the human psyche are evident in the decisions made by Macbeth (Freud, McLintock, and Bersani 5). The use of Freud’s psychoanalytic theories is of critical importance in understanding literary works. Freud’s theory of the human psyche can help readers understand the characterization and the conflict in Macbeth. Notably, there are instances in the play when Macbeth depicts that he is in connection with his id, ego, as well as the superego as the sections below will highlight. According to Freud, the id pursues the fulfillment of the pleasure principle. The pleasure principle denotes the efforts made by individuals in an effort to experience happiness. Happiness, in this case, denotes an individual’s satisfaction of needs and wants to a level of high intensity. The id is responsible for unconsciously fulfilling the pleasure principle. In the case of Macbeth, he seems to be in touch with his id when the witches trigger his ambition and desire for power. After discussing with his wife about the prophecies, Macbeth’s actions and beliefs indicate that he is in touch with his id (Freud, McLintock, and Bersani 6). He is prepared to pave his way to the throne. He decides to kill the king with the help of his wife. In addition, he eliminates the sons of the king as well as Banguo and his sons. Evidently, these actions only highlight that Macbeth is under the full control of hi id, which seeks the fulfillment of his desire to become a king. Notably, Macbeth does not give consideration to the effects of his actions a factor that ascertains that he unconsciously seeks the fulfillment of his ambitions. After the death of his wife, who committed suicide, it is expected that Macbeth will show his remorse and sorrow (Leggatt 20). However, Macbeth says the following, She should have died hereafter. There would have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time. And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle. Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing ( Act V, scene v, lines 16–27). These utterances depict that Macbeth pursued his dream of becoming the king and under the control of his id, he was unable to express his sorrow after the death of his wife. His priority is seeking his self-interests of becoming the king based on his conviction that the witches were right. It is unfortunate that Macbeth is unable to express any emotions because his id has completely controlled him. Under the full control of his id, he proves to be very insensitive as exhibited by his utterances. After Macbeth murders the king, he becomes overwhelmed by feelings of guilt. His conscious does not know any peace. Therefore, these feelings exhibit that Macbeth is also in touch with his superego. The superego torments an individual with shame and guilt because of contravening moral laws. Towards the end of Act 1, Macbeth exhibits feelings of paranoia, fear, and self-doubt. This is before he gains the courage of committing the murder. At this point, he only harbors thought of murdering the king. However, his superego seems to be at work because it highlights that what he is about to do is wrong. In other instances, Macbeth has soliloquies, which highlight that his superego is against his actions (Freud, McLintock, and Bersani 135). Amidst his soliloquies, Macbeth does exhibit fear. Under the guidance of his id, he is determined to become the king by getting rid of all the barriers in his way. At the same time, his superego highlights that he is on the wrong path overwhelming him the feelings of guilt. The fact that he is afraid of taking his actions indicates that his ego serves to mediate his id and superego. A moral person should have the capacity to balance the three distinct forces. However, Macbeth is highly ambitious, a factor that makes it impossible to strike a balance between the three forces. Although his superego is in control at some point, his id seems to have more power a factor that prompts him to pursue self-interests of becoming the king. It is unfortunate that Macbeth finds himself in a confused state where the three forces are constantly in control of him. He loses the battle because he allows his id to have supreme power over him. According to Freud, human beings who pursue the pleasure principle face the compulsion of committing injustices in an effort to satisfy their selfish interests. Macbeth does not give consideration to his conscience, which comprises of the ego and the superego. He unconsciously pursues his self-interests (Act III, scene I, line 62). Conclusion Evidently, Macbeth’s ambition is one of the outstanding themes in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. After encountering the witches who give him false prophecies, Macbeth exhibits an uncontrollable desire to become the king. Under the advice of his wife, he decides to take action in an effort to make the prophecy a reality. His soliloquies indicate that his conscience bothered him, but he did not follow it. Therefore, he lets his id control him completely. Work Cited Freud, Sigmund, David McLintock, and Leo Bersani. Civilization and Its Discontents. , 2014. Print. Leggatt, Alexander. William Shakespeare's Macbeth : A Sourcebook: London ; New York : Routledge, 2006., 2006. OhioLINK Library Catalog – LR. Web. 7 Apr. 2015. Read More