A Foul Blessing: Macbeth William Shakespeare’s Macbeth begins with the sinister meeting of three witches in thunder and lightning. They plan to meet again “when the battle’s lost and won” (I, i, 4). Before they depart, the witches declare that “foul is fair, and fair is foul” (I, i, 10). Everything has a deceptive appearance. Circumstances oppose each other. In the duration of Act I, these interpretations of the witches’ declaration prove to be frequent in the dialogue of the characters, and in the situations of the plot. The main character of the play, Macbeth, is stunned by the prophecies of the three witches. He is unsure of how to take the prophecies of becoming the Thane of Cawdor and then king. Stunned when the second prophecy comes …show more content…
They appear to be women, but have beards. They seem to contradict themselves. Although sceptical of the auguries, Banquo finds that they are “things that do sound so fair” (I, iii, 52). In reply, the witches tell Banquo that he will be “lesser than Macbeth, and greater”, “not so happy, but much happier”, and that he “shalt get kings, though [he] be none” (I, iii, 66-67). Regardless of the positive outlook of the prophecies, Banquo remains dubious, as shown when he speaks aside to Macbeth. He tells him that such promises of the future often end in …show more content…
He is easily taken in by people, proven by the fact that the former Thane of Cawdor was a traitor. Duncan is quick to put his trust in Macbeth after being betrayed. Ironically, he describes how difficult it is “to find the mind’s construction in the face”. His statement is true, as Macbeth has been thinking about removing Duncan from the throne. Things get more contrasting later on, especially when he is outside Macbeth’s castle, Inverness. He comments on the pleasant, outward appearance of the castle, when in reality, Lady Macbeth sees as her “battlements” (I, v, 41). Inverness is a reflection of Macbeth’s treason against Duncan, and how he hides his true intentions behind a false exterior. When Macbeth is hesitant to take his role in the assassination of the king, Lady Macbeth attempts to persuade him to carry out the plan by questioning his masculinity. She helps him regain his resolution by telling him to “look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (I, v, 66-67). On the night the murder is to take place, Macbeth comes to the conclusion that the “false face must hide what the false heart doth know”, echoing his wife’s words (I, vii, 82). Once again, the witches’ chant appears in the words and actions of Lady Macbeth, and
Theatre has always been riddled with superstitions and curses throughout history. Be it the last lantern lit to ward off ghosts, to saying “break a leg”, to prohibiting whistling in the theatre. ( ) However one of the most popular superstitions is about Shakespeare’s Macbeth. This superstition states, that if the name “Macbeth” is spoken outside the lines of the play, disaster will strike the theatre. Performers, stagehands, producers and essentially all who interact with the play can bypass this “Scottish Curse” by referring to the play as “the Scottish play.” Macbeth is full of violence, disorder and blood, it's got ghoulish ghosts, manipulation, deceit, assassination, and witchcraft and provides bountiful ground for dark musings. This “Curse” has run rampant throughout the ages. The cause of this is most likely its mild hazing aspect. Veteran actors spin a tale of woe and tragedy that they witnessed due to someone invoking the curse, lending credibility to the “Curse” Then when accidents occur around Macbeth, those that believe in the superstition mention and mutter about the “Curse”. Thus the “Curse of Macbeth” has grown into one of the most infamous theatre superstitions because of the many legends behind its origin, the numerous rituals to “cleanse” the evil the “Curse” invokes, and the multiple tragic accidents and events the “Curse” supposedly caused.
‘Brave Macbeth,’ (1.2.18.) as he is first introduced, possesses a valiant temperament, is adored by his generous king and all those who have viewed his prowess on the battlefield. Noble and righteous, Macbeth is portrayed as a respectable man who – although it being prophesied by the three witches before he obtains knowledge of his good fortune – gains his title of Thane of Cawdor solely through his loyalty to his kingdom. At first glance, the play’s protagonist ostensibly has a near perfect balance of both ambition and pride. However, as the plot progresses and the Weyard Sisters equivocate the future in their familiar groups of three, the reader may discern an imbalance that contradicts early perceptions of the protagonist’s personality. ‘[Yielding] to that suggestion whose horrid image doth … make [his] heart knock against [his] ribs against the use of nature,’ (1.3.144–47) Macbeth has already succumbed, albeit only in thought, to his overwhelming ambition, adding more weight to his formerly balanced internal scale, thus raising pride raising slightly higher, as ambition takes precedence. Yet this change is relatively minute, and balance is retained, as he has no desire to act upon these thoughts, wishing to gain power only ‘if chance will have [him] king … without [his] stir.’ (1.3.154–55) It is not until his wife asks him, ‘If thou are afeard
Fair is foul, and foul is fair, a phrase that has become synonym with Macbeth. It is also the introduction to one of the most important themes of this tragedy: appearance and reality. Shakespeare uses various characters and situations to emphasize this confusion between the real and the surreal, the authentic and the fake, the act and the sincere. In order to discuss this theme, different characters will be looked at : in the first paragraph, the Witches, in the second, Duncan and in the third, Lady Macbeth.
When the Weird Sisters hail Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and the future king, Macbeth’s mind is put under a curse of selfish and greedy ambition. These prophecies controlled the way that Macbeth thought and acted and eventually lead to his downfall. Immediately after the Weird Sisters present Macbeth with the prophecies, Macbeth states to the Weird Sisters “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more...:” (Document A). This statement is the precursor that shows the uprooting of Macbeth’s power-seeking characteristics that were once buried beneath the morals that were “too full o' the milk of human kindness” (Document B). As Macbeth becomes obsessed with the idea of power, his mindset is consumed with fearlessness and he states “what need I fear of thee?” (Document D). This feeling of invincibility is created by the witches “when the witches bring the tidings of Macbeth's elevation to Thane of Cawdor” and “his body seems to act independently of his will” (Cohen). Although the witches did have partial control over the thoughts that preceded Macbeth’s detrimental actions, the final decisions were ultimately controlled by Macbeth
Our main character Macbeth is very driven by his need for what he believes to be the truth. The play starts out with the quote “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” (1.1.6) meaning nothing is, as it seems. This quote was from all three witches, who decided they were going to seek out Macbeth who at the time was Thane of Glamis and a prized solider on the battlefield. Macbeth at this time was looking for more in his life. The witches then gave him and his friend Banquo three prophecies. They were that he would become Tha...
The three witches use cleverly chosen words and prophecies to exert control over others. These prophecies seem to be more potent than any action, as they can be interpreted in any number of ways, and have the ability to provoke otherwise hidden thoughts and desires. For instance, upon hearing the first prophecies and seeing the first part come true, Macbeth says, “This supernatural soliciting, cannot be ill, cannot be good … If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs.” This shows the power of the witches, and indeed the supernatural in general. The prophecies, of which Macbeth is convinced are true, have provoked thoughts and ideas, both good and evil.
As the curtains are drawn back, the lights dim until the stage is almost completely black. The only light appears on the three strange figures, the witches, gathered in the center of an open field. Lightning strikes; followed closely by a loud clap of thunder. The strange figures begin to speak. Their ragged voices can be heard over the thunderous storm. The words of “fair is foul, and foul is fair: hover through the fog and filthy air” (Act I: Scene I) are carried through the violent wind as they vanish into the night. This meeting set the opening scene to Macbeth, which ultimately casts the forthcoming story into an ominous and eerie light. It foreshadows Macbeth’s rapid decline from being an exceptionally noble man to an awfully violent individual.
This line ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair,’ is important to the play Macbeth. When the
The witches have a strong effect on Macbeth's character; they highly influence him in his accomplishments and awake his ambitions. They give Macbeth a false sense of security with their apparitions of truths. Instead they prove to be harmful for Macbeth who takes too much comfort and confidence in his interpretation of the truths. They are the ones who plant the actual idea of killing Duncan into Macbeth's mind. But if it were only the witches prophecies, then Macbeth surely would not have murdered the king. 'When you durst to do it, then you were a man,' (Macbeth, Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 7) Lady Macbeth's constant harassment pushed Macbeth and made him commit all this evil. When you reason things out by yourself you tend to now what is right and what is wrong, a conscience. But with the outside influence from the witches he thinks that that is his destiny and he must do everything to fulfill it. One can wonder if Macbeth ever had a chance of doing what was right after he met with the witches. He is overthrown and killed. Through his own ambitions, the ambition of his wife and the witches' prophesies, Macbeth has caused his own destruction and downfall. We can now clearly see that ambition not achieved through our own ability leads to destruction. 'Hail Thane of Glamis and of Cawdor and shalt be King hereafter'. (Act 1 Scene 3) These prophecies from three strangers are taken without question and probably without good judgment. Just the thought that he may be King clouds his thoughts and ambition takes over. The witches can predict the future, they can add temptation, and influence Macbeth, but they cannot control his destiny.
In the third scene, he encounters the witches who truthfully predict that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and further predict that he will become king of all Scotland. At first Macbeth is merely intrigued by what the witches say, but when their prophecy starts to come true, a seed of evil is planted within him and he can no longer see the reality of the situation – the evil nature of the
The most prophetic statement in the work is given by none other than the witches. As Macbeth approaches the hags, they great him by saying, “All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!” (I.iii. 47-50). The wicked women state the first two correctly; he is the thane of Glamis and the newly appointed thane of Cawdor. The third is correctly stated, yet the audience is unsure of this truth. Macbeth is not the current King, but fittingly all will “Hail him King”. This profound prediction lays the bedrock for the argument of fate. Once again, the witches have a control over Macbeth and merely suggest the possibility and leave the rest up to Macbeth.
Macbeth’s ambition to obtain power convinces him that it is his destiny to become King of Scotland, and that he should do anything to fulfill that destiny, even if it involves him committing tremendously immoral acts such as murder. After Macbeth realizes that the witches may actually speak the truth due to the second prophecy (Thane of Cawdor) becoming true, he begins to have an eerie and frightening thought of him killing his king and friend, Duncan, in order to ac...
No discussion of evil in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth would be satisfactory without considering its’ most famous symbols of evil: the coven of witches whose interactions with Macbeth play such a vital role in his thinking about his own life. Banquo and Macbeth recognize them as something supernatural, part of the landscape but not fully human inhabitants of it. They have malicious intentions and prophetic powers. And yet they are not active agents in the sense that they do nothing other than talk and offer visions and potions. The witches have no power to compel. If we are to explore the significance of these witches we must do so by treating them as vital poetic symbols in the play, essential manifestations of the moral atmosphere of Macbeth's world.
"Fair is foul and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air” (1.1.11-13). Humanity has the proficiency of being two-faced, one can be bad but appear good as well as be good but appear bad. Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare best exemplifies the following theme, “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” By opening the play with these lines, Shakespeare created an eerie atmosphere and promptly expressed the play’s theme. The composition portrays a Scottish soldier named Macbeth who is met by three witches with foreshadowing greetings, he is told he will be King and then falls into darkness to gain power despite the harsh consequences. Within the plot, the theme “fair is foul and foul is fair” is established and repeated throughout the play. The theme not only weaves its way into the narrative, it is shown within the supernatural beings, incidents, and play’s characters.
The witches deliberately talk in riddles to confuse the readers telling half truths in order to keep the veil on their dark deeds. The witches talk of some battle being lost and won. The line is rather vague as we donot know what battle they are referring to-whether it’s the actual battle in which Macbeth and Duncan’s kingdom are engaged or the battle Macbeth will soon face with his own soul and conscience. The sisters hobble off in a hurry on being called by their familiars ( attendant spirits).they utter the line ‘ Fair is foul and fouls is fair.’. This is another vague equivocation used by the witches which will echo throughout the play.they blur the lines between good and evil.