macbeth paranoia

Question 1

what is the theme with paranoia in macbeth

Answer 1

• the paranoia is a punishment on LM and M for the regicide and breaking the great chain of being

Question 2

art thou but a dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?

Answer 2

• the adjective ‘heat-oppressed’ refers to the pressure guilt places on you. it connotes a fever, portraying guilt as a disease.
• this shows that now since M is filled with guilt and regret, he doesn’t know what his mind is capable of and he cannot tell if the dagger is just in his mind or real
• this paranoia could be seen as a punishment as he committed regicide which is also metaphorically killing God

Question 3

here’s the smell of the blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. O,O,O.

Answer 3

-LM is having parallel thoughts to Mas he had the same thought ‘will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood from my hand?’
- this quote shows how LM and M went different ways after the murder: LM committed suicide and M chose to live
and win against fate.
- the perfumes of Arabia are one of the most strong perfumes and showing that even the strongest perfumes cannot wash away the sin of committing regicide