Why does Macbeth go after the MacDuff castle? Explain what this says about Macbeths state of mind.

By the time Macbeth decides to go after the Macduffs, he has just finished his psycho supper from hell. Banquo’s Ghost has made a couple of appearances, spewing blood from his “gory locks” and making Macbeth look like he has taken a heavy dose of LSD. L. Macbeth has told the guests to get out quickly. Macbeth is, more or less, rocking back and forth muttering about how rocks can move and trees can speak. He realizes that Macduff wasn’t at his little meet and greet. I know, I hate it when I invite people to my parties and they don’t show up. I usually get over it but Macbeth decides to kill Macduff’s extended family,

“Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword .His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line.

I suppose, on the surface, Macbeth is just trying to cover his behind and make a statement. True some apparition told him to be beware of Macduff but another one told him that he is completely safe (the whole man born of woman thing). He certainly suspects that the good Macduff is on to him and he is right. He is already racking up dead bodies like a bad horror movie but he feels that he might as well keep going, “I am in blood Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er….” Macbeth has evolved into a sort of medieval serial killer. The guy just can’t stop killing. He is paranoid about pretty much everything and his only respite seems to be to kill more people. He certainly doesn’t need to kill everybody with Macduff D.N.A in them but he feels compelled to. Macbeth has bought into the “go big or go home” sports mantra except in killing people. It would have been better if he just played medieval basketball or something.

Wow Aslan thanks for the response. It actually makes sense now! you'r funny too! Can you help with one more thing? what was Hecate so angry about?

Thanks

Hey, no problems. I actually took part of that from a response I wrote a long time ago to a similar question. Glad to be of help.

Oh, Hecate was angry because, as queen of the witches, she was not initially invited by the other witches to mess with Macbeth.