Examples Of Half-Truth In Macbeth

A half-truth is even more dangerous than a lie. A lie, you can detect at some stage but a half-truth will mislead you for long. This was said by Anurag Shourie, in his book called “Half a Shadow”. In terms of Macbeth, this holds true in numerous ways. The play by William Shakespeare, is often portrayed as if it was Macbeth that was the monster of the play, a true evil that had extended to the world. This is not the case, Macbeth is misunderstood as a monster, instead, he is just built up to be greedy. This is shown in his ambition, and he also exhibited the main components of greed, he also heavily follows the 48 laws of power.

Ambition is a major driving force in most of the power ventures greedy people with undergo, but ambition alone is

If 't be so,

For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind;

For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;

Put rancours in the vessel of my peace

Only for them; and mine eternal jewel

Given to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!

Rather than so, come fate into the list. (Act 3, scene 1, 68 - 75)

In this sense, Macbeth fears that his children won't get the throne of Scotland, and instead, Banquo’s children would get the throne, as per the prophecy. Macbeth kills Banquo and his son in fear of him losing the line of kings to him. He shows a frightening persona that looks very out going as an innocent the first half of the play. “To beguile the time, look like the time, bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower.” (Act 1, Scene 5, 70 -72). His wife tells him to hide his intention before and after murdering Duncan. These are the components of greed Macbeth shows indefinitely, the other two involve strategy, which he doesn't show fully, and the other involves personal past, which is never revealed in the

The book of the laws was written in 1998, which is much later than Shakespeare, but it still describes how greed flourishes within people worthy of power. Law 3 describes that the person seeking power must conceal their intentions, which Macbeth does for the majority of the play. “For certain friends that are both his and mine, whose love i may not drop, but wail his fall who i myself struck down: and thence it is that i to your assistance do make love - masking the business from the common eye for sundry weighty reasons.” (Act 3, Scene 1, 133- 138). Macbeth explains to the murderers that he cannot kill Banquo, for it would make him suspicious and he would lose the loyalty of the vassals, but he must mask the business from the common eye, hide his intentions. He also deals with law 6, which is court attention at all costs. “O, yet I do repent me of my fury, that i did kill them.” (Act 2, Scene 3, 121 - 122). He draws attention to himself by saying he killed the two guards that were held responsible, which he did out of anger. All throughout the play, he keeps pulling attention to himself. The 26th law states that it is wise to keep your hands clean. “Your castle is surprised; your wife, and babes savagely slaughter’d.” (Act 4, Scene 3, 236 - 237). Before the news is broken to Macduff, they make note that Macbeth knows of their intentions, they don't know he already sent