Hallucinations in Macneth
Hallucinations
Throughout the whole play there’s a surreal/unreal atmosphere. It doesn’t only make us doubt what’s “foul” and what’s “fair”, it also makes it unclear whether certain visions in “Macbeth” are real or merely hallucinations. Hallucinations are supernatural symbols of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s guilt, and they generally serve as a reminder of what they have done or are about to do.
One of the most important hallucinations that occur in “Macbeth” is the floating dagger, which accompanies Macbeth as he goes to murder Duncan, King of Scotland. The vision of the dagger starts off by Macbeth speaking his famous words: “Is this a dagger which I see before me?” This is also a soliloquy, since it’s spoken in an interior monologue and is not directly addressed to the audience. Macbeth doesn’t believe that the floating dagger is real, since he can’t actually touch it, yet he still sees it. Macbeth even suggests himself that it might be a hallucination.
(Act 2, scene 1, Lines 36-39)
“Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?”
The dagger is covered with blood and it’s pointing like an arrow towards the king’s chamber. It’s clear that the dagger signals that something bad is about to happen and it also represent the point of no return, since it’s crucial to the whole story whether Macbeth succeeds in murdering Duncan or not. Furthermore, it’s a foreshadowing of chaos and disorder.
Later on in the play, Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost sitting in his place at a big feast. Macbeth is paranoid and worried that he will be found out. The hallucination of Banquo’s ghost reminds him that he has murdered a former friend, and thereby reminding him of his guilt.
Not only Macbeth is affected by what he and his wife have done, but also Lady Macbeth eventually gives in to hallucinations. As she sleepwalks, she believes that her hands are covered with blood,
Throughout the whole play there’s a surreal/unreal atmosphere. It doesn’t only make us doubt what’s “foul” and what’s “fair”, it also makes it unclear whether certain visions in “Macbeth” are real or merely hallucinations. Hallucinations are supernatural symbols of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s guilt, and they generally serve as a reminder of what they have done or are about to do.
One of the most important hallucinations that occur in “Macbeth” is the floating dagger, which accompanies Macbeth as he goes to murder Duncan, King of Scotland. The vision of the dagger starts off by Macbeth speaking his famous words: “Is this a dagger which I see before me?” This is also a soliloquy, since it’s spoken in an interior monologue and is not directly addressed to the audience. Macbeth doesn’t believe that the floating dagger is real, since he can’t actually touch it, yet he still sees it. Macbeth even suggests himself that it might be a hallucination.
(Act 2, scene 1, Lines 36-39)
“Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?”
The dagger is covered with blood and it’s pointing like an arrow towards the king’s chamber. It’s clear that the dagger signals that something bad is about to happen and it also represent the point of no return, since it’s crucial to the whole story whether Macbeth succeeds in murdering Duncan or not. Furthermore, it’s a foreshadowing of chaos and disorder.
Later on in the play, Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost sitting in his place at a big feast. Macbeth is paranoid and worried that he will be found out. The hallucination of Banquo’s ghost reminds him that he has murdered a former friend, and thereby reminding him of his guilt.
Not only Macbeth is affected by what he and his wife have done, but also Lady Macbeth eventually gives in to hallucinations. As she sleepwalks, she believes that her hands are covered with blood,