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Comparison hamlet and macbeth
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William Shakespeare displays countless examples of appearance versus reality in his two tragic plays called Macbeth and Hamlet. Appearance versus reality is one of the most common themes in literature: Shakespeare explores this in many ways. In the opening scene of Macbeth, the witches open the theme by saying their famous words “Fair is foul, and foul is fair / Hover through the fog and filthy air.” (I, i, 12-13). These lines show the readers the tone of tragedy and darkness in Macbeth. Hamlet’s most famous example of appearance versus reality is “The Mousetrap” play within the play in Act III Scene ii. The question of “What is Truth?” has been, and continues to be, pondered by thinkers and poets for centuries. These two tragedies, along with all of …show more content…
The three witches introduce the theme of appearance versus reality with their words along with their appearance. Banquo says “You should be women, / And yet your beards forbid me to interpret / That you are so.” (I, iii, 46-48). Also, the witches tell Macbeth that he can only be harmed by a man born of a woman. This prophecy made Macbeth overly ambitious and confident: appearing that all men are born of a woman meaning no one could harm him, so he thought. Macduff was able to kill Macbeth because his mother had a C-section. Throughout his reign, Macbeth appears as if he is trying to be a fair leader for Scotland while in reality he only cares about the power the throne gives him. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth show their selfishness and ruthlessness when she tells Macbeth “Look like th’ innocent flower / But be the serpent under’t.” (I, v, 56-57). The witches, Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth deceive the readers into thinking they are kind and loyal people, but in reality the three are tricksters and only loyal to
The Witches introduce the theme with the infamous phrase “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (scene 1, line 11) in the first scene. It’s functional for the Witches to say this in the beginning of the book, as they are the start of all the perplexity. They become the core of confusion when they awaken Macbeth’s ambition and transform his perspective of good and evil, making bad things look good and good things look bad. Ironically in connection with this, Banquo warns Macbeth, “Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence” (1/3/125-126). The Witches continue to speak in contradicting language, such as “lesser than Macbeth, and greater” (1/3/65) and “Not so happy, yet much happier” (1/3/66) that adds to the sense of moral confusion, by implying that nothing is quite what it seems. Banquo’s warning is fulfilled at the end of the play when the Witches had won Macbeth’s trust with prophecies that became true –‘honest trifles’- and then betray him in the things that really mattered, his life and his country -‘deepest consequence’- to win his spirit for hell.
In the written text, Shakespeare emphasis's the hidden reality through the use of dramatic techniques of imagery and symbolism. There is a constant use of light and dark imagery which is used by the protagonist , MAC...
...e murdered. When king Duncan thanks Macbeth for his heroic service in the battle he replies “Your highness a king cares for his people as a father cares for his children and the people represent the loyal children to the father (I, iv, 23-25). Later in the scene, Lady Macbeth shames her husband so he can continue with the plan of killing Duncan. To shame Macbeth, she calls him a coward, questions his manhood, and tells him that he should be as tough as she is, (1.7.54-59). The second apparition is a bloody child which shows Macbeth "The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth" (4.1.81). This shows that no man can harm Macbeth because everyman is born of a women except Macduff. He says that Macduff was born untimely and was ripped out of his womb . This was abnormal because being ripped out of your mothers womb is being born.
At this point Macbeth has become a tyrant, so wrapped up in his delusions and power he 's nothing of his former self. When the English army arrive he is confident in the fact no man born of a woman can harm him. “Thou wast born of woman. But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, Brandished by man that’s of a woman born.” When Macduff reveals he was not born of a woman, Macbeth is snapped out of his delusions and realizes the evil he 's done.
Appearance vs. Reality in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. In Hamlet, one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies, there is a prevailing theme that is concurrent throughout the play. Throughout the play, all the characters appear to be one thing on the outside. yet on the inside, they are completely different. The theme of Appearance versus reality is prominent in Hamlet because of the fact that the characters portray themselves differently from what they really are.
The theme of appearance versus reality is very important in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The characters of Duncan, Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth are unable to differentiate between appearance and reality, resulting in tragic consequences. Poor judgment is evidenced by Duncan, who trusts Macbeth too much; Lady Macbeth, who is fooled by the witches; and Macbeth, who is tricked repeatedly by others.
The introduction of the theme is said within the first lines of this play by the witches “Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair” (1, 11, 1). According to the plot, it makes sense for the witches to say this at the beginning of the play as they are the start of the entire conundrum. Banquo also points out in the play that the witches have beards buy they look like women. The Witches become the thrust of confusion when they awaken Macbeth’s ambition and alter his perspective of good and evil, making good things look bad and bad things look good. Banquo also warns Macbeth of the witches “Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence” (1, 3, 125). However, the witches speak in a contrasting language “Lesser than Macbeth, and Greater” (1, 3, 65) and “Not so happy, yet much happier” (1, 3, 66) which adds to the confusion that exists and tells the reader that nothing is what it seems to be. Near the end of the book, we figure out ...
How does a person’s appearance affect the way you perceive them? Appearance can hide a person’s personality and their intentions, and can often create conflict. Appearance versus reality is a common theme used in novels to create conflict and help to evolve the plot. 1984 by George Orwell and Hamlet by William Shakespeare have similarities and differences in the way appearance and reality is used. The original purpose of deceit in each novel appears different but have the same meaning. The way the theme of appearance versus reality is conveyed through different mediums such as double lives, actions, and organizations are similar. In the end, the theme of appearance and reality has different outcomes
Gender is evidently out of its traditional order within the play, and thus the three chosen exemplar characters to showcase this are Lady Macbeth, the Witches, and Macbeth. In saying this, Lady Macbeth is a clear example of how the traditional characteristics of a woman are non-existent as they are taken over by masculinity and strength. The witches challenge their womanhood due to the power they hold and attributes they have, all while Macbeth challenges his gender as he shows femininity through weakness and fretfulness.
Things are not always what they seem. This statement is prevalent to Shakespeare's "Hamlet", emphasized in some connotations of the language used by Hamlet's character in his second soliloquy. Throughout the play there remains a conflict of appearance versus reality. In addition to revealing Hamlet's plot to catch the king in his guilt, this soliloquy uncovers the very essence of Hamlet's true conflict.
In Macbeth, witches are described as beings who view life in a different standpoint. They believe what is good is bad and what is bad is good. The witches had not only helped, but have also broke Macbeth. After the “weird sisters” tell Macbeth he will be thane of Cawdor, thane of Glamis and King, Banquo says:
When the witches told Macbeth that no man born of a woman could harm him, he would not be defeated until the forest came to his castle, and that his only threat was Macduff, Macbeth felt very secure about his kingship. Little did Macbeth know, that all of these foretellings would bring about his demise. Macduff was born out of a dead woman, so he was the only one who could hurt Macbeth. When Malcolm's army attacked Macbeth's castle, they camouflaged themselves with trees, thus giving the appearance of the forest coming to the castle. Finally, Macduff was the only thing that Macbeth had to worry about, because he was not born of a woman, and could kill Macbeth.
Hamlet is a paradox; he is a perplexing character that throughout the play has more to show. Hamlet is a person of contradictions he is inquisitive and profound yet indecisive. The experiences Hamlet goes through led to dramatic changes in his character. In the beginning we are introduced to a young man who is mourning for the death of his father and struggling with the sudden marriage of his mother to his uncle. Hamlet faces the dilemma of wanting to avenge his father’s death and suppressing his intense emotions in order to calculate a plan.
Macbeth, a hero at the opening of the play, is told by three "weird sisters" that he will become great. Macbeth then acts upon this prophecy and it comes true, which soon leads Macbeth to his disastrous downfall, the ambition of Lady Macbeth also influences him and Macbeth then unwillingly murders King Duncan. Macbeth (now king) kills many other supposed enemies, innocent woman and children, even his own best friend Banquo, all to secure his position as king, which we know the original Macbeth would not have done. Further prophecies by the three witches persuade Macbeth into believing that he cannot be killed, but in act five, scene eight, we discover Macduff was "from his mother's womb untimely ripped" who then kills Macbeth in battle, and Lady Macbeth has already committed suicide.
William Shakespeare is known for his dark, romantic theatrical productions, and an example of Shakespeare’s world renowned work is the play Hamlet. In this play there are a variety of characters that contribute to the play’s plot and tones. For example, Polonius, Osric, and the Gravedigger include comedic relief to certain tones in the plot whereas Claudius, Laertes, and Fortinbras provide a sense of dark, sinister deceit within the plot. The main character, Hamlet, contributes to the play in a distinct way because he is portrayed in two different ways. The first way he is portrayed he is seen as the heir to the throne who is full of sorrow for his father’s death and distaste for his mother’s quick remarriage. Yet, Hamlet takes it upon himself