Psychoanalytic Approach in Macbeth

Psychoanalytic Approach in Macbeth

Freud's theory of human behaviour apply to events and characters in Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. The main character in the play is Macbeth, whose actions represent the three levels of consciousness in Freud's theory. Macbeth's actions are closely related to the organization of his mind, and change according to the circumstances, they include the id, ego and superego.

Macbeth can be represented by the id, when he considers killing Duncan, in order to fulfill the witches´prophesies. Macbeth is guided by his impulses in order to get what he wants, despite of the wrongness of his actions. Macbeth´s thinking represents his wishes and fantasies, which come directly from his id, “Present fears are less than horrible imaginings: My thought whose murder yet is but fantastical [...]” (1,3, 149-150). which shows an illogical and unrealistic manner to accomplish a goal, but yet it is a thought that comes across Macbeth's mind and gives him instant gratification by allowing him to think that he may become king.

Macbeth's representation of the id, is clearly seen when he affirms that “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires: The eye wink at the hand! Yet let that be, Which the eye fears, when it is done to see” (1, 4, 57-60). Which corroborates that his id is taking over his conscience in order to acquire personal gratification, rather than considerate the wrongness of his actions.

Macbeth fluctuates into different levels of consciousness, he represents as well the ego, when he realizes that his actions and thoughts can bring him evil consequences, and understands that his thoughts are only guided by his ambition, “I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erlaps itself And falls on the other”(1,7, 25-28). this rationalization, makes Macbeth aware of the action that he is about to perform and directed by his ego realizes that what he seeks is only intended to feed his egotistical nature. Furthermore, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that “[They] will proceed no further in this business” because Duncan “hath honour'd [him] of late” and consequently their plans betray their king, their country, and their own values.

The superego is also present in Macbeth's personality, and can be symbolized by Macbeth's fears, dreams and hallucinations. Macbeth is victim of his own irrational actions, and his superego works in his mind making hiom realize of what he had done wrong. The hallucinations Macbeth sees, are only a representation of his fears, which are indeed his own actions: “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-oppressed brain?” (2,1,43-46). This quote indicates that Macbeth's hallucinations

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