"Present fears / are less than horrible imaginings." Describe Macbeth's state of mind as he makes his way to Duncan's chambers in Shakespeare's...

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, I expect
that he is at war with himself during the "dagger scene." As he makes his way to
Duncan's rooms, he cannot help but think about Duncan—a man he has served faithfully on
the battlefield. Macbeth loves his King, who is also his friend and his cousin. He has
tried to stop the chain of events by telling his wife they will go no further with their
plans, but she rips him apart, insulting his manhood and badgering him into
acquiescence. This speaks to Macbeth's inner-weakness, his ambition (which is his
character flaw—his "tragic flaw"), and Lady Macbeth's ability to manipulate this husband
who at the start of the play seems so dedicated to her—even as she insults
him.

Macbeth is quite aware that what he is about to do
will compromise his immortal soul: the Elizabethans believed that killing a King was a
mortal sin. Only God can ordain who sits on the throne: not a mere man. (Macbeth
addresses this awareness in Act Three, scene one.)

It's
safe to assume that Macbeth's mind is beginning to fragment: it may well be the witches
that present the image of the dagger that seems to float through the air, leading
Macbeth on his way to kill the King. However, when he returns to his wife after the
murder, we see that he was not at all prepared for the task he carried out. He is
undone: raving and hysterical. He even comes back carrying the bloody murder
weapons.

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LADY
MACBETH:

… Go, get some
water

And wash this filthy witness from your
hand.

Why did you bring these daggers from the
place?

They must lie there. Go carry them, and
smear

The sleepy grooms with
blood.

MACBETH:

I'll
go no more:

I am afraid to think what I have
done;

Look on't again I dare not.
(II.ii.59-66)

Killing
is not unknown to Macbeth, but cold-blooded murder is. It is in
this part of the play that we see the last of the good-hearted man who left the
battlefield in Act One, scene three. From this point on— and he admits that he expects
to see this change—he will find murder easier each time he commits it. He will even
leave Lady Macbeth out of his plans and carry out some of the most barbaric acts one
could imagine: like killing Macduff's wife and children.