<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This article explores the aetiology and the psychogenesis of Macbeth’s tyrannical ambitions and the growth of his psychic degradation. Macbeth deigns to be an incorrigible regicide, but his ambition is ultimately overpowered by his conscience. This aporetic conflict is ultimately fatal to his morality and sense of Self. Character analysis informed by psychoanalytic criticism will investigate the protagonist’s tormented psyche in its struggle between the ego-syntonic (Persona) and the ego-dystonic (Shadow) leading to neurosis that culminates in psychosis as Macbeth’s identity fractures throughout the play. The ontological issue of the Witches is explored in an attempt to explain the role the metamorphic environment plays in Macbeth’s psychic atrophy. For this reason, the Witches present us with the conundrum of their being both phenomenal and noumenal. Macbeth’s difficulty to distinguish between the real and the phantasmagoric results in a psychotic breakdown. Accordingly, he becomes a mad tyrant seeking to protect his unlawful reign.</p>
</abstract>

This article explores the aetiology and the psychogenesis of Macbeth’s tyrannical ambitions and the growth of his psychic degradation. Macbeth deigns to be an incorrigible regicide, but his ambition is ultimately overpowered by his conscience. This aporetic conflict is ultimately fatal to his morality and sense of Self. Character analysis informed by psychoanalytic criticism will investigate the protagonist’s tormented psyche in its struggle between the ego-syntonic (Persona) and the ego-dystonic (Shadow) leading to neurosis that culminates in psychosis as Macbeth’s identity fractures throughout the play. The ontological issue of the Witches is explored in an attempt to explain the role the metamorphic environment plays in Macbeth’s psychic atrophy. For this reason, the Witches present us with the conundrum of their being both phenomenal and noumenal. Macbeth’s difficulty to distinguish between the real and the phantasmagoric results in a psychotic breakdown. Accordingly, he becomes a mad tyrant seeking to protect his unlawful reign.

The Aetiology and the Pyschogenesis of Tyrannical Behaviour in <italic>Macbeth</italic>

East-West Cultural Passage

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Aetiology and the Pyschogenesis of Tyrannical Behaviour in 

This article explores the aetiology and the psychogenesis of Macbeth’s tyrannical ambitions and the growth of his psychic degradation. Macbeth deigns to be an...

The Aetiology and the Pyschogenesis of Tyrannical Behaviour in Macbeth

Published Online: Feb 27, 2023

Page range: 107 - 124

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ewcp-2022-0018

Keywords
psychogenesis, aetiology, psychosis, neurosis, shadow, persona, regicide, tyrannical behaviour, retroactivity, collective unconscious, personal psyche

© 2022 Emilian Tîrban, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Aetiology and the Pyschogenesis of Tyrannical Behaviour in Macbeth

Published Online: Feb 27, 2023

Page range: 107 - 124

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ewcp-2022-0018

Keywordspsychogenesis, aetiology, psychosis, neurosis, shadow, persona, regicide, tyrannical behaviour, retroactivity, collective unconscious, personal psyche

© 2022 Emilian Tîrban, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
psychogenesis, aetiology, psychosis, neurosis, shadow, persona, regicide, tyrannical behaviour, retroactivity, collective unconscious, personal psyche