Peter Hardie 08/05/2007
By what means does Shakespeare reveal Macbeth’s state of mind in Act One Scene Three
Macbeth’s state of mind is revealed through Macbeth’s soliloquies. As Macbeth speaks “aside” he reveals to the audience his plans to murder to Duncan. Macbeth says that the “horrid image”, referring to that of him murdering Duncan fills him with utter fear. Macbeth’s desire to become king is “swelling”, meaning growing in size. The word “soliciting” meaning temptation, shows how he cannot stop thinking about the “imperial theme” which means the topic of becoming king. These terrible, “fantastical”, meaning imaginary, thoughts shake Macbeth as his “fixed heart” knocks at his ribs and “shakes so” his “single state of man” meaning his unitary condition, that he cannot think about anything else and has become completely possessed. Macbeth suggests that his actions and thoughts are “against the use of nature”, which means that they are not normal and contrary to his normal condition. While Macbeth is speaking to the audience, Banquo notices him in this state. He describes Macbeth as being “rapt”, meaning entranced. This shows that Macbeth is so wound up in his own murderous thoughts that he thinks of nothing else.
