Order and Harmony in the state is the natural reflection of a good ruler –a man wholly dedicated to the service of the state and in turn the state would have the benefit of his virtues both moral and intellectual. However if a ruler allows passion to dictate his actions then his own life is reduced to chaos and this will be reflected in political anarchy and social disorder. This then is the tragic flaw in the character of Macbeth who allows his passion for 'vaulting ambition' to override his 'single state of man' King Duncan and his loyal subjects on the other hand are the symbols of order and harmony in the kingdom. Duncan's reign is one of 'grace and measureless content' The witches symbolise the entry of evil and anarchy into a world that has been orderly and good. They recognise no moral law,'fair is foul and foul is fair' and they, with their hellish power, deceive Macbeth.

With the murder of Duncan, Macbeth strikes the treasonous blow which he unleashes in Scotland and in his own nature and has succumbed to the forces of anarchy and evil:

'Most sacrilegious- the Lord's anointed temple'

It is also a crime against the natural and moral order as reflected in the lines' dire combustion and confused event --- the earth was feverous and did shake'

The breakdown in his 'single state of man' is vividly conveyed by his hallucinations (these 'horrible imaginings'), his nightmares ('those terrible dreams that shake us nightly') the knocking of the heart against the ribs has reduced his hitherto rich and honourable life to a meaningless, empty existence. Even the recurring symbol of sleep intensifies the outward expression of his internal disorder.

Later we have the same kind of mental disorder in Lady Macbeth' sleeping- walking ordeal in her part of this 'unnatural' deed which will eventually cause her death.

Even the apparitions which indicate the future downfall of his evil regime , Macbeth is determined still to brook no opposition and wades deeper into the river of blood --Banquo, his best friend and rival was early disposed of and now the murder of Macduff's wife and children

The overthrow of his kingdom of evil eventually takes place and is symbolically conveyed by the advance of Malcolm's (Duncan's son and rightful heir) army camouflaged by green boughs. The death of Macbeth is inevitable as a welcome release from an empty and meaningless existence. Order and harmony is restored again in Scotland and Malcolm' last speech echoes his fathers by stating that by the grace of god 'we will perform in measure time and place'