After hearing the prophecy that he will one day be king, Macbeth is encouraged by his wife to murder King Duncan. Leading up to the murder of Duncan, Macbeth experiences feelings of trepidation and gradually shows signs of insanity. After he kills Duncan, Macbeth loses his mind and realizes that he has tainted his soul. Macbeth can no longer sleep, becomes anxious, and feels terrified. He realizes that murdering King Duncan will only lead to more bloodshed and sends assassins to kill Banquo and Fleance. His ambition and anxiety drive him to make rash decisions and commit more atrocities. As the play progresses, Macbeth becomes more ruthless as he descends deeper into madness. Macbeth also becomes an insomniac who is obsessed with defending his title as king. Macbeth eventually comes to terms with his fate in his famous lines,
"Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing" (Shakespeare 5.5.20-28).
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