In everyday setting people pretend to hide their real personalities, faults and avoid negative consequences. Appearance that contrasted with reality is an important theme in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The playwright portrayed the theme in the figure of Macbeth as he deceived the other characters in the play. The need to hide his intention of becoming king, to conceal the crime that he has committed and the influence his wife, Lady Macbeth motivated Macbeth to project an image different from reality. The desire to have throne urged Macbeth to appear loyal to Duncan while harboring the thoughts of murdering the king. In order to hide the fact that he killed the king, Macbeth deceived his friend Banquo. The influence of Lady Macbeth encouraged Macbeth to portray a fake appearance to deceive others. By analyzing and inferring from the quotations in the play, I will explain the deception of Macbeth to Duncan, Banquo and Lady Macbeth and his motivations.
In order to hide his true intentions of the throne, Macbeth had to project an image as a loyal general to the king. Upon his arrival at Forres, Macbeth told Duncan that he will do “everything / Safe toward your love and honor” which is a false statement because he was thinking of murdering the king instead of protecting him during his conversation with the witches. His words implied that he was convincing not only the king but also to himself that he is loyal to Duncan. After the king arrived in Inverness, Macbeth had an inner discussion to himself and he revealed that he “…have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition…”(act 1 scene 7). His statement confirmed his only reason of killing the Duncan was his ambition and to hide his ambition to...
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... us to be watchers…”(2.2) the night after the king was murdered. Macbeth is urged to deceive others because of the orders of Lady Macbeth.
Our every action has an intention. Like any one of us, Macbeth was also motivated by different factors. The goal of being a better person, the concealment of his crimes and the encouragement of his wife are his motives. Deception portrayed to us by Shakespeare is one side of a bigger argument. Deception is not always bad; deception could be a great tool if used properly. It could be used to prevent chaos by not telling the passengers of a boat the situation until the captain has fixed the problem or a father deceiving the police by saying he committed a crime even though it is really his son who is the one at fault. Whatever the reason of the deception is, we must make sure that it is ethical and morally correct.
He uses it in a very versatile manner, especially after killing someone. An example of this would be after King Duncan’s assassination, Macbeth explains, “[Duncan’s] silver skin laced with his golden blood; And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature.” (2.3.91-92) This is an example of the theme “appearances can be deceiving” because he is disguising his lustful killing using grieve as a means to blend in with everyone else. Even though the others are questioning about who may have done the killing, Macbeth is the killer using deception to hide it. Deception is also prominent when he first meets the witches. He explains “Glamis, and thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind [.]” (1.3.118-119) This displays deception because even though he does not externally show interest or emotion, internally he is continuously thinking about it. Beside deception, this is what initially creates his ambition and lustful nature. An example of this is when Banquo is invited to the dinner party. He explains that Banquo is “our chief guest.” (3.1.11) But, when he talks to the murderers, he explains, “Both of you Know Banquo was your enemy.” (3.1.118-119) This conveys the theme “appearances can be deceiving” because he dissembled his honest intentions from Banquo, and alarmingly, he hired assassins specifically to kill Banquo. Although Macbeth is very clever at portraying the theme “appearances can be deceiving”, Lady Macbeth also excels at this as
Perhaps the most fundamental theme of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the inherent corruptibility of even a seemingly good man when ambition turns to greed, and Macbeth himself exemplifies this concept throughout the play. While at the outset he is seen to be loyal to his king, generally considered trustworthy, and displaying numerous other laudable qualities, Macbeth ultimately succumbs to the influence of those around him and becomes unequivocally evil, setting aside all his previously held morals and coming to be driven only by his lust for power. This transition is brought about by a wide variety of factors and plays an integral role in the development of the plot. In his tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare employs
Macbeth stated ?I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what false heart doth know.? (Pg 55) This demonstrates that he was resolute and determined to use all the powers of his body to commit that terrible murder. He was to deceive the world by framing two innocent servants and appearing distraught by Duncan?s untimely death. The death of a king, who was a kind-hearted man, was aided by the blatant mis-use of his own love, loyalty and trust for his closest friends
Before the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth was a brave, noble warrior. “For brave Macbeth well he deserves that name… Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chop and fixed his head upon our battlements” (Act I, Scene 2, lines 2). He was one of the last people anyone would expect to kill King Duncan. Shakespeare chooses a noble character such as Macbeth, to emphasize how greed and power can alter a person’s good morals. In Act one we start to see Macbeth’s desire for more power rise. “Stars, hide your fires; Let no light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hond yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done to see” (Act I, Scene 4, lines 52- 55). His desire for power is at war with his good morals. He wants to become king but does not want to kill Duncan.
Among the greatest gifts that the renaissance produced was the eloquent and incredible Shakespearean plays. Written mostly in the 1590s these plays have been performed and admired countless times; entertaining mass audiences by providing interesting tales that explore the depth of human insights and the different universal themes. Among the many Shakespearean plays Macbeth, written in 1606, stands out with its short composition but multiple themes. This tragedy narrates the tale of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s quest to grasp ultimate power by ignoring their morals and succumbing to their dark desires, which ultimately leads to their downfall. This tragic play portrays the desires, needs, and temptations that accompany ambition in men and women. However the ambition in Macbeth is blind, it does not abide to the morals, but it allows space for dark actions as means necessary for accomplishment. Blind ambition serves as the main driving force that drives Macbeth to subdue to his dark desires, defy his noble behavior, and ultimately his downfall.
This shows that he really didn't want to kill Duncan, but he did it in order to prove himself to Lady Macbeth, and to become the king. By the end he had no fear, and had killed not only Duncan but also many other people. He now had different views from which he had in the beginning of the play. Macbeth realizes that he is no longer afraid "no, nor more fearful. (Act V, scene vii, l 9). He is now considered a man, but he doesn't like the fact that he has killed all these people.
Macbeth is captured by his wild ambition at the opening of the play when he and Banqou meet the three witches. The witches tell Macbeth that he is the Thane of Cawdor, and later will be king. They tell Banquo that his sons will be kings. Instantly Macbeth started to fantasize how he is going to be king. He understood that in order for him to become king he has to kill Duncan. “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical”(Act 1 Sc. 3, p.23). He was pondering about the assassination until the moment that he could no longer control his emotions. “To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other-“(Act 1 Sc. 7, p.41). Because of his “vaulting ambition” he killed Duncan.
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a selfish Scottish thane becomes over-ambitious and commits several murders in order to gain and stay in power. After the murders, Macbeth evades suspicion by hiding his guilt and intentions, therefore deceiving others into thinking that he is innocent. Other characters including Lady Macbeth, the witches and the Scottish thanes also use their appearances to hide the truth and deceive others. With these examples, Shakespeare shows that appearances can be deceiving.
Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" is considered one of his great tragedies. The play fully uses plot, character, setting, atmosphere, diction and imagery to create a compelling drama. The general setting of Macbeth is tenth and eleventh century Scotland. The play is about a once loyal and trusted noble of Scotland who, after a meeting with three witches, becomes ambitious and plans the murder of the king. After doing so and claiming the throne, he faces the other nobles of Scotland who try to stop him. In the play, Macbeth faces an internal conflict with his opposing decisions. On one hand, he has to decide of he is to assassinate the king in order to claim his throne. This would result in his death for treason if he is caught, and he would also have to kill his friend. On the other hand, if he is to not kill him, he may never realize his ambitious dreams of ruling Scotland. Another of his internal struggles is his decision of killing his friend Banquo. After hiring murderers to kill him, Macbeth begins to see Banquo's ghost which drives him crazy, possibly a result of his guilty conscience. Macbeth's external conflict is with Macduff and his forces trying to avenge the king and end Macbeth's reign over Scotland. One specific motif is considered the major theme, which represents the overall atmosphere throughout the play. This motif is "fair is foul and foul is fair."
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.
Shakespeare depicts the corruptive power of ambition to the audience as the protagonist, Macbeth is led by his unchecked ambition despite acknowledging it. Macbeth's private ambitions are made clear to the audience through his asides and soliloquies. Macbeth who was initially faithful to Duncan and was aware of his ambition, couldn't control it and thus, made him become a murderous tyrant, obsessed with power and full of fear and insecurities. From the beginning of the play, Macbeth had ambitions. This was shown once the witches told Banquo and him the prophecies. Macbeth is left confused but it sparked his ambition. Banquo ponders aloud, 'the instruments of darkness tell us truths, (to) win us with honest trifles,' to then 'betrays in deepest consequence.' Banquo tries to metaphorically explain to Macbeth that the witches only told them some truth so that they could make Macbeth believe them. Unknowingly, Banquo foreshadows Macbeth's decision to betray Duncan and kill him. After this, Macbeth's corruptive ambition and thirst for power thrives. However, prior to Duncan's death, Macbeth was aware of his ambition but his morals didn't fit them. Thus, his initial decision to not kill King Duncan. He had clearly stated that he 'have no spur to prick the sides of my intent,' but it is 'only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other.' Macbeth metaphorically
Macbeth could not help but notice how close he was to being king and hinted his ambition to have the title in his letter to Lady Macbeth. He wrote, ³...came missives from the King, who all-hailed me Thane of Cawdor, by which title, before, these weyard sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time with ŒHail, King that shalt be!² Since the witches had predicted Macbeth gaining Thane of Cawdor, he believed they might be right about him replacing Duncan, as the letter continues, ³This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to heart, and farewell. (p.35-36)² This passage also portrays Macbeth¹s trust in his wife when he addresses her as, ³...my dearest partner of greatness,...² His trust in Lady Macbeth later allowed her to convince him to murder Duncan. Macbeth believed her when she said, ³We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking place and we¹ll not fail, (p. 42)² which confirmed the deal.
In the play Macbeth, Macbeth's ambition was to become king. But the only that he saw fit to become king was to kill Duncan. Duncan and Macbeth were cousins, and Duncan was a kind person to Macbeth. But Macbeth was blinded by his ambition. Macbeth said, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other," (Act I Scene VII). By this quote, Macbeth meant that the only reason he sees to kill Duncan was because he wanted to become king. He didn't think about the future consequences or repercussions. At first Macbeth was loyal, but his ambition overcame his morals a kind-heartedness and made him evil.
This again shows how eager Macbeth is despite how sinastrous these three witches are. This quote can also show the readers that if the witches had not told them the prophecy...
In Macbeth, Shakespeare confronts audiences with universal and powerful themes of ambition and evil along with its consequences. Shakespeare explores the powerful theme of the human mind’s decent into madness, audiences find this theme most confronting because of its universal relevance. His use of dramatic devices includes soliloquies, animal imagery, clear characterisation and dramatic language. Themes of ambition and mental instability are evident in Lady Macbeth’s reaction to Macbeth’s letter detailing the prophecies, Macbeth’s hallucinations of Banquo’s ghost and finally in the scene where Lady Macbeth is found sleep walking, tortured by her involvement.