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Mental Deterioration In Macbeth

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Macbeth’s Mental Deterioration
Mental deterioration is when one’s mind begins to over-analyse, breakdown, and start to do things a healthy brain would not normally do. Symptoms may include memory loss, apathy, anxiety, inhibition, and mood changes. Power goes to Macbeth’s head, causing him to lose his sense of empathy, and eventually his mentality. In Act I, scene 2 Macbeth is described as brave, relentless and savage. At first glance, he appears to be a brave soldier. He is named Thane of Cawdor as a reward for his “bravery”. After this, the witches predict wealth, estate, and that someday he will become king. This information results in Macbeth having thoughts of murder (Act 1, scene 3 lns 130-142). After Duncan announced that his son, Malcolm, will be heir to the throne Macbeth states that there is one more man in his way of becoming king. In the article “When Power Goes To Your Head, It May Shut Out Your Heart”, a neuroscientist named Sukhvinder Obhi says that power fundamentally changes how the brain operates. The mirror system neurons become active when you or someone else squeezes a ball. Similar to when you pick up a cup of coffee, hit a baseball, or fly a kite. Humans learn by observing and examining other humans. Mirror neurons help humans understand how to imitate the learned trait. It somewhat places you in another person’s head. Feeling power causes a boost in the mirror system. When given power, people have a harder time getting inside someone’s head.

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