How is Macbeth a tragedy of the imagination? Consider his wild imagination throughout the play.

Macbeth's imagination begins working on him early in the play when the witches address him as the Thane of Cawdor and then king. At first he simply denies the possibility of becoming king: “To be king stands not within the prospect of belief.” Later, the idea begins working on his mind, and he starts to consider the possibility. We see the workings of his imagination in the following instances: 

• After Lady Macbeth convinces him to...

Macbeth's imagination begins working on him early in the play when the witches address him as the Thane of Cawdor and then king. At first he simply denies the possibility of becoming king: “To be king stands not within the prospect of belief.” Later, the idea begins working on his mind, and he starts to consider the possibility. We see the workings of his imagination in the following instances: 

• After Lady Macbeth convinces him to murder the king, his imagination begins to draw him into the plot, as he thinks he sees a bloody dagger before him, luring him on. 


• During and shortly after the murder of the king, he thinks he hears voices saying that he shall sleep no more.


• After ordering the murder of Banquo, he believes he sees Banquo's ghost at the celebratory feast in his castle.


• Later, the witches make several prophecies: No one born of woman shall harm Macbeth, and Macbeth is safe until Birnam Wood marches on Dunsinane. Macbeth's imagination allows him to be much too easily drawn into the witches trap—he takes their prophecies literally and becomes tragically overconfident.

Macbeth is not a very analytical character. He is unable to see the trap he is falling into, as he is spurred on by Lady Macbeth and witches. His imagination makes him easy to manipulate and also leads to his deteriorating sense of reason.