Examples Of Schizophrenia In Macbeth

Macbeth exemplifies symptoms of schizophrenia throughout the play. A few symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, hallucinations, hostility, and disorganized thoughts. Macbeth clearly portrays schizophrenia symptoms throughout the play. Treatments for Macbeth could have included antipsychotics or psychosocial therapies. In brief, Macbeth displays the symptoms of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel, and behave. It often develops in men aged in their early twenties, however, is rarely found in men over the age of forty. Causes of schizophrenia include genetics, prenatal environment, brain chemistry, and substance use. To be diagnosed with the disease, a patient must persistently exhibit two or more of the above symptoms, as stated by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Instead of attacking schizophrenia itself, treatments attack the symptoms. Antipsychotics attack the symptom of experiencing hallucinations and delusions. In addition, psychosocial therapies assist patients who are lacking emotional responses and have disorganized thoughts. Out of all the treatments available, they are common methods amongst schizophrenic patients.
The first symptom that Macbeth demonstrates is hostility and aggression. Macbeth’s aggression is displayed through several murders including Banquo, Macduff’s family, and Duncan. “Of all men else I have avoided thee./ But get thee back. My soul is too much charged/ With blood of thine already.” (Macbeth 4.8. 4-6). In the passage, Macbeth is talking to Macduff and is displaying hostility towards him. He is hostile towards Macduff because he has just killed his family and doesn’t want to kill Macduff too. The first symptom of schizophrenia that Macbeth demonstrates is found throughout the