macbeth literary essay appearance vs reality

Notes on Appearance vs Reality in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

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The contradiction between appearance and reality is repeated throughout the play. In the very first scene, the three witches utter together that fair is foul and foul is fair.

The fact that it is one of the thematic concerns of the play is emphasised when Macbeth’s first dialogue in the play is but the repetition of what the three witches said earlier, “ so foul and fair a day I have not seen .” In Act I, Scene 4 , King Duncan helplessly expresses that “ there is no art to find the mind’s construction in the face .”

The play blurs the distinction between what situations and individuals look like and what they really are. The tragedy in the play functions from such dichotomies.

In his own words, “ false face must hide what the false heart doth know. ” Unlike Banquo , Macbeth doesn’t want to recognise the three witches as evil forces.

The three witches are different for Macbeth from who they really are. It is Macbeth whom they manipulate because he is not what he appears to be. In reality, he nurtures destabilising ambition.

At the beginning of the play, he is a glorious, brave, victorious general who is respected by everyone unquestionably but he is not what he seems to be.

The very first differing degree of appearance and reality is spilt by the three witches. Whatever they predict isn’t what it sounds like. Their half-truth deceives Macbeth.

They don’t act, they only speak and their words activate whatever dormant in the listener and that’s when a character reveals what it really is rather than what it may appear as.

Lady Macbeth complains Macbeth of his transparent appearance. She delivers the formula that “ to beguile the time, look like the time .” She asks him to “ look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it. ” Macbeth imbibes it very well.

From then he successfully hides what he really is. Unlike what Lady Macbeth accuses him of, his face is no more a book on which one can read the inner thoughts.

When King Duncan arrives at the castle of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth literally acts so deceptively it is impossible to know that she is also plotting to get him murdered that very night.

Towards the end of the play, it becomes clear that the tragedy is coming from this flaw of not being able to see the true realities. Macbeth is falsely lured by the second round of misleading predictions made by the three witches when they show him three apparitions.

From what it appears as Macbeth is unable to know the realities of those half-truths and slips into a false assurance regarding his invincibility. From appearance alone, Macduff looks like someone who cowardly abandons his family but, in the end, he is the one who avenges and the order return to the hands of Malcolm .

The whole play is slowly furthered on the deceptive appearances and wrong perceptions. Vital appearances are always contradicting to their reality.

macbeth literary essay appearance vs reality

Macbeth Appearance vs Reality Essay

Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare that is set in Scotland. The story follows Macbeth, who is Thane of Glamis, as he becomes Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland. Macbeth is a tragic figure who starts out as a good man, but is corrupted by his own ambition and ends up killing Duncan, the rightful king, to take his place.

One of the main themes of Macbeth is appearance vs reality. Macbeth is constantly being confronted with the idea that things may not be what they seem. This is most notable in the scene where Macduff confronts Macbeth about the murder of Duncan. Macduff tells Macbeth that he knows Macbeth is responsible for the murder, and Macbeth responds by trying to kill Macduff. Macduff manages to escape, and Macbeth is left with the realization that he has been caught.

Macbeth is also constantly being confronted with his own guilt. He knows that he is guilty of murder, and he can never quite shake the feeling that someone is going to find out what he has done. This leads to a feeling of paranoia and insecurity that ultimately drives him mad.

The theme of appearance vs reality is particularly relevant in Macbeth because it explores the idea of how easily people can be deceived. Macbeth is a perfect example of this, as he is easily manipulated by Lady Macbeth and Macduff manages to fool him into thinking that he is not a threat. This theme is still relevant today, as it speaks to the way that we often try to hide our true selves from others.

The theme of appearance versus reality is illustrated at the start of act 1 when Macbeth talks to the King and becomes a Thane. “Let light not glimpse my dark and deep desires” (1 . 4.59) says Macbeth. Macbeth confesses that he wants to kill King Duncan and seize the Scottish throne in this case.

Macbeth is pretending to be something he’s not, he is putting on an appearance. Macbeth knows that appearing as a loyal and honest subject will give him what he wants, whereas if his true intentions were revealed, he would not be able to gain anything.

Later in the play, Macbeth’s wife Lady Macbeth also talks about the importance of appearances. She says “that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” (5.1.17-18). In this quote, Lady Macbeth is saying that it doesn’t matter what something is called, it will always smell the same. This quote is significant because it shows that Lady Macbeth is willing to do whatever it takes to make Macbeth look good, even if it means killing people. Lady Macbeth knows that appearances are important, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to make Macbeth look like a good king.

Later in the play, Macduff confronts Macbeth about the murders he has committed. Macduff says “thyself I speak not, nor defend: the tyrant’s raiders are amok; infected blood they have shed” (4.3.187-189). In this quote, Macduff is saying that Macbeth is a tyrant and has killed many innocent people. Macduff knows that Macbeth is a murderer, but Macbeth still tries to maintain his appearance as a good king. Macbeth is trying to keep up the facade that everything is okay, even though he knows that he is a murderer.

At the end of the play, Macbeth’s true colours are finally revealed. He says “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury Signifying nothing” (5.5.28-33).

Macbeth is saying that life is meaningless and that everything is just an act. He knows that he is a murderer and that he will be punished for his crimes. Macbeth’s appearance versus reality is finally revealed to the audience, and they see that he is not the good king that he pretends to be. Macbeth is finally exposed as the tyrant that he is, and his true colours are shown to everyone.

The tragedy of Macbeth is defined by a contradiction between appearance and reality, as well as the deception that may result from this. The outward façade of the Macbeths as trustworthy and innocent aids them in carrying out their plan to kill Duncan and seize the throne.

Macbeth, in particular, is good at hiding his true intentions behind a mask of politeness and courtesy. However, as the play progresses it becomes clear that Macbeth is not what he seems, and his gradual descent into evil is mirrored by the deterioration of his physical appearance. Blood starts to pour from his wounds, and his face becomes disfigured and mottled. In the end, Macbeth can no longer hide the reality of his crimes, and he is revealed as the murderous villain that he truly is.

The lesson that Macbeth teaches us is that it is important to be aware of the difference between appearance and reality, and to never take things at face value. Reality can be much darker than it seems, and we need to be careful not to be deceived by appearances. Macbeth is a cautionary tale of the dangers of letting your guard down, and the consequences that can result from being blinded by greed and ambition.

Appearances are what something appears to be or how someone appears to be. On the other side, however, the truth is that things exist as they are. This emphasizes the distinction between truth and appearance. The reality is the fact, but the appearance is merely what something looks like.

Macbeth is a play that revolves around the dichotomy of appearance vs reality. Macbeth, the title character, is a warrior who is then named the Thane of Cawdor by the king. Macbeth meets three witches who prophesy that he will be become the king. Macbeth then murders King Duncan in order to take his place. Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth, plays an important role in Macbeth’s rise to power and eventual downfall.

She urges her husband to kill Duncan and later cleans up his mess. Lady Macbeth shows herself as a strong and determined woman, but she is ultimately undone by her guilt. Macbeth’s reign as king is short-lived and he is eventually killed by Macduff. Macbeth’s story highlights the dangers of letting appearances deceive one into thinking that all is as it seems.

One of the most important aspects of Macbeth is the theme of appearance vs reality. Macbeth is a play about a man who is fooled by the appearances that he sees. He is swayed by what he thinks is reality, but it turns out to be nothing more than an illusion. This is most clearly shown in the scene where Macbeth meets the witches for the first time. The witches tell Macbeth that he will be king and this gives him the idea to kill Duncan in order to take his place.

Macbeth only sees what he wants to see and this leads to his downfall. Macbeth is not the only one who is fooled by appearances. Lady Macbeth is also taken in by them. She is convinced that her husband can do no wrong and she helps him cover up his crime. Lady Macbeth is later undone by her guilt and she kills herself.

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Themes - AQA Appearances and reality in Macbeth

Macbeth introduces us to the savage and superstitious world of medieval, feudal Scotland. However, some of the themes that Shakespeare highlights are still relevant in the 21st century.

Part of English Literature Macbeth

Appearances and reality in Macbeth

Banquo's ghost appearing in front of Macbeth

In Macbeth , things are never quite what they seem. Characters say one thing yet mean something else and use euphemisms close euphemism A word, phrase or expression used in place of one that may be found offensive or suggest something unpleasant. to hide reality. Wicked and violent acts such as murder are covered up or the blame is shifted onto someone else. The Witches mislead Macbeth, or they at least make suggestions which allow him to mislead himself. Ghosts, visions and apparitions occur regularly. All of these things contribute to the many contrasts close contrast The use of opposites in a literary text. which exist in the play; almost nothing is as it should be.

How is this shown in the play?

In Macbeth , Shakespeare examines how appearances can be deceptive and that the reality behind them is often unpleasant. Some of the key aspects are:

seeing things
sleep and dreams
fake hospitality

Analysing the evidence

How is the theme of appearances and reality presented in the play?

Show answer Hide answer

Through characters' language - Many of the words the characters use have double meanings, are twisted for a particular purpose or are used to highlight contrasts (eg "So foul and fair a day I have not seen")
Through characters' thoughts - The Macbeths have evil intentions and even when they seem friendly and welcoming are often actually plotting how they can hold onto their power (eg when Duncan is welcomed into their castle as an honoured guest)
Through characters' actions - Acts of pure evil are presented as though they are somehow beneficial to others (eg when Macbeth orders Banquo's death, he suggests to the hired murderers that it will be of benefit to them)

Author: William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)

Theme of Appearance in Macbeth

Categories: Macbeth

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Macbeth Appearance Vs. Reality Essay Plan

Intro paragraph: In a riveting play laden with the supernatural, nothing is as it outwardly appears to the naked eye. Tension, mystery, dread and ambiguity pervade the drama. Using the theme of appearance vs reality, Shakespeare delves deep into the darker side of humanity and the inner plotting/scheming of the human mind.

1) Witches: the witches set the scene for confusion and illusion in the play. They successfully manage to mislead, cheat and incite evil throughout Scotland via deliberately ambiguous and misleading language. Even their physical appearance is contradictory and perturbing.

Fair is foul and foul is fair Lesser than Macbeth and greater You should be women and yet your beards forbid me to interpret Look not like the inhabitants of the wart yet are on’t (Last 2 are both Banquo) This supernatural soliciting cannot be be ill, cannot be good (Macbeth)

2) Duncan’s naive and misplaced trust shows that none can be believed or truly relied upon. The dramatic irony between himself and Macbeth as well as his dismissal of Donalbain’s advice are key.

Absolute trust There’s no art to find the minds construction in the face (Duncan) There’s daggers in men’s smiles (Donalbain) More is thy due then all can pay (Duncan to Macbeth) Valiant cousin Black and deep desires (Macbeth)

3) Lady Macbeth is the foremost example and epitome of deceit and false appearances. Inwardly she is consumed with a lust for power but outwardly maintains a masquerade of a loving and subservient wife.

Fill me from the crown to the toe top full of direst cruelty Take my milk for gall you murdering ministers Too full o’ the milk of human kindness Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t My keen knife not see the wound it makes Honour’d hostess (Duncan)

4) Macbeth fools Duncan and carries out his coup against him. In the aftermath of the murder he abandons his once dearly held principles and lies to the assembly. Maintains his reputation while secretly corrupted by his own delusions of grandeur by building up a masquerade of selfless devotion and martyrdom.

Is this a dagger I see before me? (Supernatural helps Macbeth to carry out the murder) I do repent me of my fury that I did kill them (the two guards he framed for the murder) Had I but died an hour before this chance I had lived a blessed time

5) Banquo is the most subtle example of appearance vs reality. He successfully hides his ambition. Unlike the others his mask is never unveiled due to his untimely demise at the hands of Macbeth.

Noble Banquo Too cruel anywhere (the murder) Bosom franchised and allegiance clear I fight of treasonous malice I fear thou playd’st most foully for it May they not be my oracles as well? But hush! No more.

6) Even the forces of good who oppose Macbeth are drawn into deception and appearance vs reality. The princes are falsely accused if Duncan’s murder. Malcolm is forced to lie to Macduff to test his loyalty and convictions. Very important paragraph, most people will overlook it.

Stolen away and fled which puts upon them suspicion of the deed His flight was madness (Macduff’s wife scorns his exile) A good and virtuous nature may recoil under an imperial charge Confound unity on earth My more having will be as a sauce to make me hunger more

7) Macbeth himself is undone by his association with the witches. The equivocation of the witches give him a false sense of security and superiority which ultimately makes him very vulnerable to being overthrown.

Macbeth shall never be vanquished Great Birnam wood Shall come against him None of woman born shall harm Macbeth (All witches) Damned all the trust them Golden opinions I cannot taint with fear (All Macbeth)

Personification

Example : “The night is long that never finds the day.” Explanation : Personifies night and day to illustrate the idea of hope and redemption after prolonged suffering and darkness.
Example : “Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care.” Explanation : Sleep is personified as a healer of mental anguish, highlighting its absence in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s lives due to guilt.
Example : Lady Macbeth’s invocation to the spirits to “unsex” her. Explanation : Personifies murderous intent and the stripping away of feminine qualities for cruelty, illustrating her ambition and desire to aid Macbeth’s rise to power.
Example : “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” Explanation : This paradox sets the tone for the play, highlighting the theme of appearance versus reality and the moral confusion faced by Macbeth and others.
Example : “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.” Explanation : Refers to Banquo, suggesting his lower status than Macbeth but greater in moral standing and the legacy of his descendants.
Example : “Not of woman born.” Explanation : Refers to Macduff, born via caesarean section, a paradox that plays a crucial role in Macbeth’s downfall, as he misinterprets the witches’ prophecy.
Example : Macbeth’s “Is this a dagger which I see before me” soliloquy. Explanation : Reveals his inner turmoil and moral conflict prior to Duncan’s murder, illustrating his descent into madness.
Example : Lady Macbeth’s “Out, damned spot!” soliloquy. Explanation : Showcases her guilt and descent into madness, revealing her inner conflict and remorse.
Example : Macbeth’s “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” soliloquy. Explanation : Reflects on the futility and transient nature of life, showcasing his existential despair following Lady Macbeth’s death.

Alliteration

Example : “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” Explanation : The witches’ chant uses alliteration to create a rhythmic, incantatory effect, enhancing the supernatural atmosphere .
Example : “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” Explanation : The alliteration emphasizes the play’s theme of the inversion of moral values and the blurring of lines between good and evil.
Example : “Full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife.” Explanation : Macbeth uses alliteration to convey his mental torment and paranoia, highlighting his descent into madness.

These examples showcase how Shakespeare’s use of literary devices in “Macbeth” not only enriches the text’s thematic depth and emotional resonance but also underscores his mastery of language and storytelling.

Macbeth – FAQs

What is the main theme of Macbeth? The main theme of “Macbeth” is the destructive nature of unchecked ambition and power. Shakespeare explores how ambition can corrupt individuals, leading to moral decay and the downfall of both the individual and those around them.

Who are the three witches in Macbeth? The three witches, also known as the Weird Sisters, are supernatural beings who prophesy Macbeth’s rise to power and his downfall. Their ambiguous and manipulative predictions play a crucial role in the play, symbolizing fate and the dark forces that influence human behavior.

What role does Lady Macbeth play in Macbeth’s downfall? Lady Macbeth is a pivotal figure in Macbeth’s downfall. Her ambition and determination to see Macbeth become king drive her to manipulate and encourage him to commit regicide. Her initial strength and resolve gradually give way to guilt and madness, highlighting the psychological consequences of their actions.

How does Macbeth change throughout the play? Macbeth transforms from a valiant and loyal soldier to a tyrannical ruler consumed by guilt and paranoia. His ambition, spurred by the witches’ prophecy and Lady Macbeth’s urging, leads him to commit heinous acts. This change reflects the corrupting influence of power and ambition.

What is the significance of the prophecies in Macbeth? The prophecies in “Macbeth” are significant as they set the play’s events into motion and influence Macbeth’s actions. They also raise questions about fate vs. free will, as Macbeth chooses to act on these predictions, leading to his eventual downfall.

How does Shakespeare use supernatural elements in Macbeth? Shakespeare uses supernatural elements, such as the witches and their prophecies, visions, and ghostly apparitions, to create an atmosphere of mystery and foreboding. These elements underscore the themes of fate, ambition, and the moral inversion within the play.

What does blood symbolize in Macbeth? Blood is a powerful symbol in “Macbeth,” representing guilt, violence, and the consequences of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s actions. It visually manifests the psychological burden of their crimes and the pervasive stain of their guilt.

What is the tragic flaw of Macbeth? Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his overwhelming ambition and desire for power. This flaw, combined with the influence of the witches’ prophecies and Lady Macbeth, drives him to commit regicide and other atrocities, leading to his downfall.

Can Macbeth be considered a tragic hero ? Yes, Macbeth can be considered a tragic hero . He possesses noble qualities and initially earns the audience’s sympathy. However, his tragic flaw—ambition—leads him to make choices that result in his moral decline and ultimate demise, fitting the classical definition of a tragic hero .

This quiz covers a range of topics from plot details and character roles to themes and symbols in “Macbeth,” offering a comprehensive test of comprehension for the play.

Spot the Literary Device

Read the following paragraph from “Macbeth” and identify the literary devices used. Then, check your answers below.

“Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?”

Metaphor – The “dagger of the mind” suggests the dagger is not real but a product of Macbeth’s tormented thoughts, symbolizing his guilt and ambition.
Imagery – Vivid imagery is used to describe the dagger, making the audience visualize the hallucination that Macbeth experiences.
Personification – The dagger is given qualities of being “sensible to feeling as to sight,” even though it is a figment of Macbeth’s imagination.
Alliteration – “fatal vision,” “false creation” – These phrases use the repetition of initial consonant sounds to emphasize Macbeth’s turmoil.
Questioning the self – Macbeth’s questioning of his own senses and sanity reflects his inner conflict and foreshadows his descent into madness.

This exercise demonstrates the depth of Shakespeare’s use of literary devices to convey complex themes and character emotions in “Macbeth.”

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macbeth- appearance vs reality

ENGLISH COURSEWORK

Appearance Vs Reality

‘How does Shakespeare use the idea of deception in his play, Macbeth?

Discuss the topic by referring to character, supernatural elements, places and objects not being what they seem

William Shakespeare was a very famous playwright and actor who lived over 100 years ago and wrote the many plays including Macbeth . The play Macbeth is a tragedy, which was written in the sixteenth century by Shakespeare. In this play the main character, called Macbeth is a very brave and courageous man whose growing ambition and misfortune takes over his life and leads him to become very evil and threatening.

In Macbeth, Shakespeare has used the idea of deception to develop his style of play writing and to make it more interesting to the audience. There are several ways in which he has done this, and I will be focussing on these to explain how he has done this and what kind of an affect it has on people. Throughout the play there is a tense atmosphere that builds on as it goes along and makes the audience more attracted to it.

Shakespeare uses the idea of deception to create a lot of strange and superstitious effects in order to enhance the quality of the play and to make it more dramatic. For example, the play starts off with three witches also the setting is very eerie so the audience’s attention is automatically grabbed and they want to carry on further to find out what will happen. Not only does he include witches, the play also consists of cauldrons, spells, ghosts and illusions. Even though it is unusual to see such things today it was very significant in that time period. Characters, acting, stagecraft and language are various ways that Shakespeare has used to exemplify the idea of deception in his play. There are different types of deception, such as, people who are not what they seem, supernatural deceptions and things/places not being what they seem.

Macbeth is a play about tragedies and misfortune. There are many ideas or themes, which are portrayed in this drama but the main one that I will be focussing on is appearance and reality. This basically means the general idea of things not being what they seem.

This play has a very strong moral, philosophical and social significance, which is displayed throughout the play and is revealed throughout the drama. Because this play was written before the 1914’s we can see that the language, stagecraft and settings used are from the time period the play was written in. It looks at the historical and social significance of the play, and deals with things that were morally and philosophically significant to the people at that time. For example, the people at that time were strong believers of strange and supernatural elements such as witches and ghosts. These are less believable these days because of all the latest science and technology, which Shakespeare may not have had at his time.

This tragedy looks at the way people see things and are mislead into thinking their own way. Essentially we understand from the play that ambition is good but if you become way too ambitious and are blinded by it then that can lead to harm. This is what happened to the character of Macbeth. The significance, which is shown in the play, could be that dreams or illusions are not always what they seem, and can often lead you astray. The play is based on the fact that Macbeth changes from a highly valued and respected man to someone who is disliked by the people in his society. The reasons being that he was very fortunate but could not see it, therefore he went ahead and thought he could make his dreams come true.

What happens in Shakespeare’s play is ironic and is related to the time period as well which also influences the genre of the play. The play also implicates the historical happenings at the time period it was written because during that time Shakespeare had written a lot of tragedy and bitter plays. Around the same time Shakespeare’s twins died therefore there may be a significant reason as to why he wrote these tragedies. Nevertheless he has used ideas of deception in such ways to deceive the audience and characters throughout.

Macbeth is a very interesting character created by Shakespeare because he is very diverse throughout the play. In other words he was known as a very loyal and brave warrior at the beginning of the play, as the King gave him the title of the ‘Thane of Glamis’. We can immediately see that he is liked and respected by the King and the people, because of his position in the King’s army. However, during the play the character of Macbeth changes and he becomes very ambitious which leads him to become evil, which eventually leads to his death. This play battles with the concepts of evil and good, which are shown through acts of deceit and honesty. Mainly it is about deceit, of the audiences as well as the characters. There are also things that Macbeth encounters throughout this play, such as witches, apparitions and illusions that are not what they seem to Macbeth, but he does not know this and in the end he ruins his life and the lives of many others whilst trying to make his dreams come true. He does not understand the concept of reality, which means that you can’t judge by appearances, there is something behind the appearance that you have to look for rather than just looking at the surface of things.

Shakespeare uses a variety of different ways to illustrate the deceptions in the play, some of which are, language (e.g. linguistic devices), stagecraft (e.g. settings and special effects), and characters (e.g. the role of Macbeth, or the three witches).

In the time period in which this play was written, I expect that there wasn’t much technology because it was in the early sixteenth century when not all the new technology that we have today, had existed. However, there was some technology such as the trapdoors that were built into the stage. This allowed people to appear and disappear in the eyes of the audience.

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Nevertheless, instead of cinemas, there were theatres where dramas and plays such as Macbeth were performed. This was a major entertainment for people at that time as there weren’t things like computers, Television, games, etc. so people would go to the theatre to watch these plays and they would really enjoy it. People also went to places to see bear beating, this is an event where bears were tied up and beaten by loose packs of dogs. People at that time enjoyed these horrifying scenes and it was a means of entertainment. This shows what the people were like in pre-1914, which links to why Macbeth was written and to whom it was targeted. Shakespeare has written this play in order to entertain and amuse the people at that time therefore he has used ideas of deception to make it more appealing and interesting.

Macbeth is also a horrifying play where terrifying scenes like murder takes place. The audience, I should imagine would have been very fascinated and horrified by this play, which would mean that more people would want to watch it. At that time period people were also very superstitious and believed in things like witches because there wasn’t much advanced technology to prove otherwise. Social class divided the people’s status in society, e.g. the lower class people could not wear the same colours as the rich as this was not accepted in society. The rich and poor wore different colours to represent which class they were from. Witchcraft was a major issue at the time and anyone who was suspected would be tortured and executed. Due to this hundreds and thousands of women were executed for being caught doing suspicious acts of witchcraft. This is one of the many ideas Shakespeare has used in his play to deceive the audience and characters. It provides an interesting twist in the beginning of the play when the three witches are doing spells and things.

The first ever Macbeth play to be performed was in Hampton’s Court in 1605. There were many superstitions that people believed in such as, in the theatres audience were not allowed to say ‘Macbeth’ or something might happen to the characters on stage.

I will now identify and explain the general theme of appearance and reality, which is portrayed throughout the play, Macbeth.

There are many people who are not what they seem in reality and can trick the audience into thinking a different way.

This deception is shown in the first Act where the former Thane of Cawdor becomes a treacherous man because he has betrayed King Duncan and the army of Scotland when he joins the Norwegian army in the battle. In this act Scots and Norwegians are enemies and there is a battle going on, where Macbeth is a triumph for killing the traitor and then he puts the head on his sword. This is significant because at that time it is seen as brave and courageous to place the head of the victim on the sword, in that way people would know you’ve won and will praise you. We can tell that Macbeth has just been honoured for doing this because in this scene the captain says ‘’ For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name – disdaining fortune with hiss brandish’d steel…till he unseam’d him from the nave to th’ chaps and fix’d his head upon our battlements.’’ In this passage the captain is explaining what happened at the battlefields to the King and he is glorifying what Macbeth did, which was to murder a traitor and put the head on the sword.

The deception in this scene is that of when the character of the traitor deceives the other characters and betrays his army by fighting against them. The King is just one character who is deceived by this man from the battle. He was just one of the men in the battle was not what he seemed because he was a traitor all along and he betrayed King Duncan, thus was killed later on. This is an example of when deception is illustrated in the play.

Macbeth does not realise that the former Thane of Cawdor has been killed, he then goes and has an encounter with the witches, who tell him that he is going to be Thane of Cawdor. This is mentioned in as one of the prophecies. (Scene 3; line 48). ‘’All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor’’ , this is said by one of the witches and is deceiving to the character Macbeth because he doesn’t know that the former Thane of Cawdor has died.

The witches give him the following three prophecies in scene 3:

‘‘All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis,’’

‘’All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor,’’

‘’All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, that shalt be king hereafter.’’

After that Macbeth is very shocked and confused because at this moment he or the audience are not aware that the Thane of Cawdor has been killed or the fact that he will kill the King in the future to become one. This is deceiving to the characters that are told this (Banquo and Macbeth) because they did not know that the Thane had died. The language shows that Macbeth does not know that he is now the Thane of Cawdor as he sounds very confused in scene 3, ‘’… By finel’s death I know I am the Thane of Glamis, But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives A prosperous gentleman …’’ the idea of the Thane being dead and Macbeth being the new Thane is something that is not what it seems because the audience do not know this and also because they are being told by strange women. This is a deceiving matter because strange women, also known as the three witches, are telling them these prophecies that have never been heard of before. However, when it does come true then it is like another thing that is not what it seemed because no one really expected the prophecies to come true.

Macbeth is a character who is deceiving to the audience, because in the beginning of the play we see him as a brave, courageous and good-willed man. However, this changes throughout the play and we find out that Macbeth is not what he seems and is actually a very evil and wicked man. We know this as a fact because he kills King Duncan to fulfil his dreams and ambition. Nevertheless, he was not that keen at first until his wife, Lady Macbeth, encouraged him to do so. She says to him that she is an even better man than he is because he was cowering not to do the murder. She then makes him believe it is the right thing to do so Macbeth thinks that he has got no other chance and this can’t be as bad as long as he hides it well. He says at the end of act 1 scene 7, ‘’I am settled and bend up…to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show, false face must hide what the false heart doth know’’ from this extract we can see that Macbeth has chosen to ‘mock’ the people which means to deceive them and the King by going ahead with this ‘terrible’ plan. It is easy to see how the character of Macbeth is transformed from trustworthy and good-willed to become disloyal and treacherous. We know he was a trustworthy and honourable man because he helped the King’s army in the battle; therefore it was very shocking to find out he committed a murder. Even though he prevails in making his dreams and ambitions come true, at the same time he is deceiving the people for a long while. Shakespeare makes it deceiving to the other characters as well as the audience when he makes out that everybody sees Macbeth as a godlike figure who is respected by many. Conversely Macbeth is not at all like that and we can see how cruel and evil he becomes throughout the play.

Shakespeare uses soliloquies in the beginning of act 1 scene 7 to represent how Macbeth is feeling, which is uncomfortable with this plan. It is not like him to do such evil acts so he is very worried about what will happen. ‘’ If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly. If th’ assassination could trammel up the consequence and catch with his surcease, success, that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all-here…but only vaulting ambition which o’erlaps itself and falls on th’ other -’ from this long and interesting soliloquy we can tell that Macbeth is discussing how hard this task is and how his ambition is urging him to go on. It seems as though he has second thoughts which deceive the audience because we think that he will forget doing the murder from act 1 scene 7 where he mentions how respected and praised he is at the moment, ‘’We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honour’d me of late, and have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people, which will be worn now in the newest gloss, not cast aside so soon.’’ Macbeth wants to enjoy the praises he has earned (‘’ bought ’’) as though they were new clothes. Shakespeare uses metaphors here to describe the praises given to Macbeth and to make an impact on what he is saying. We, as in the audiences are deceived by this because it makes us think that he will back out but in the end he does not due to his weakness and he continues with the murder.

Lady Macbeth as a hostess at the castle is very misleading because she is not what she seems to be. In the beginning of Act 1 scene 6, when King Duncan is welcomed to Macbeth’s castle he meets with Lady Macbeth. In the eyes of Duncan, Lady Macbeth is seen as the ‘honour’d hostess’ because of her appearance and false talk. He does not know what Lady Macbeth is really like and instantly judges her according to her appearance and how she presents herself to him. ‘’See, see our honour’d hostess – the love that follows us sometimes is our trouble, which still we think as love. Herein I teach you how you shall bid god yield us for your pains and thank us for your trouble.’’ Duncan is being deceived yet again because he thinks that Lady Macbeth is offering kindness, but in reality she is just putting on a show. He says how grateful he is even though it can sometimes be a nuisance to have people offering kindness to him. He also says that this is his way of teaching her to ask God to reward him for the trouble she has to take, and also to thank him for providing the occasion for that trouble. Basically King Duncan is trying to say how grateful he is to be here and is thankful to her, however, in reality he is saying this to the wrong person because she is hiding her true appearance with a false one. Therefore she is tricking him.

King Duncan is quite a gullible man who trusts people very easily. He is glad to have come to Macbeth’s castle because he highly values him and has given him the titles, ‘Thane of Cawdor’ and the ‘Thane of Glamis’. As we can see from the Duncan’s speech, he is pleased to have come to this castle, but the one thing he does not realise is that he is actually being deceived by the appearance of the settings and the other characters, like Lady Macbeth. Duncan mentions how kind Lady Macbeth is as a hostess, but he is unaware of what she is really like in the inside, which is evil and cunning because she is plotting to murder him in the following scene.

After the murder has taken place, every one is in shock. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth put on false faces and they are not suspected of anything. Duncan’s two sons, Malcolm and Donaldbain also hear of the news and are not really shocked. In this scene it seems as if Malcolm is pretending to be evil, but in reality he is only concerned about saving his life. Even though they do not react that much, they are still worried and they think that they too may be in danger. Therefore they decide that that it would be best to leave the country and go separate ways. We know this from the conversation between Malcolm and Donaldbain in Act 2 scene 3. Malcolm is asking Donaldbain what they should do in order to save their own lives, this is deceiving because we did not expect them to get over their father’s death so easily and also it is deceiving to the other characters. This is because Malcolm says, ‘’ what will you do? Let’s not consort with them. To show an unfelt sorrow is an office, which the false man does easy. I’ll to England.’’ This shows he has already made up his mind and is waiting for Donaldbain’s reply, who then says he will go to Ireland. Malcolm also suggests that they should secretly leave, without letting anyone else know. ‘’And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, but shift away.’’ This shows that they feel no sorrow for their father and are willing to leave without trying to find out who the murderer is but only worried about they’re own lives. We, as audiences may know that they are not the killers but in the way Malcolm suggests leaving, as soon as he hears of the death seems as though he is evil and he is the murderer. It is deceiving to the other characters when he leaves because they see it as very suspicious that the King’s son’s have decided to secretly leave the country. This may lead to people thinking that they are the murderers, but in reality this is not what it seems like.

The play starts off with the witches appearing and disappearing and throughout the play they appear and disappear, which is a type of supernatural deception because it is not normal to have witches. This is a way of taking the attention of the audience, as they would find it fascinating to watch how the witches appear and disappear. In Shakespeare’s time, he did not have many special effects, so the supernatural deception effects would have had to be done on stage using the old fashioned way, the trapdoor. The trapdoor is one way in which people in Shakespeare’s days, used to perform special acts of appearing and disappearing and it was a good type of special effect used to deceive the audience at the time. The reason being that they did not have as much technology as we have today and were not as advanced so they would not have been able use advanced technology to do any special effects or lighting in order to make it really attractive. If he lived today he would have used things such as lighting and other technological equipment to make this play interesting for people of today so they would enjoy it.

One of the special effects that could have been used on the character of Banquo’s ghost is a way of showing the idea of deception because Macbeth is the only one who can see the ghost and so the audience may also not be able to see anything. In the time of Shakespeare the ghost would have most probably been imagined or a pale face of someone with powder all over, who would have come and gone through the trapdoor. There was not as much technology as today and it wasn’t as advanced as today, so you wouldn’t have been able to do special affects like holograms and things on stage. These are ways in which people can see images and effects, which are not solidly there, they see it through computerised programmes.

The apparitions are another set of tools of deception that Shakespeare uses to improve the quality of the play. This dramatic irony like the ghost only come and go so they may have not been acted out so the other characters would have used imagination to pretend they were there. Also not all the characters can see the ghost, only Macbeth does. This is shown from the passages in Act 3 Scene 4, when language is used to show that Macbeth can see something that other’s cannot. When Macbeth talks about Banquo’s ghost he is deceiving the other characters. We know this because they are confused therefore they think Macbeth is going mad. Ross is one of the men at the feast and he speaks up saying, “What sights, my lord?” from this phrase I know that the people there are very confused they do not know what is going on, this is when Lady Macbeth lies to them to cover up the truth. Therefore she is deceiving the other characters and making them think that Macbeth is really ill, “Good-night; and better health attend his majesty” they leave after Lady Macbeth tells them to do so.

Duncan is invited to Macbeth’s castle, which he finds very nice and welcoming. He compliments on how they are all so nice and the castle I so welcoming when he does not even have a clue as to what his fate will bring in the future. In the beginning of Act 1 scene 6, Duncan says ‘‘this castle hath a pleasant seat; the air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle senses.’’ Duncan is saying that the castle is very welcoming just by looking at it and smelling the air. This castle is deceiving to the king because it is not what it seems. It seems like it is a very ‘pleasant’ and wonderful place, however, in reality it is not at all a pleasant setting because this is the place where Duncan gets murdered. He does not know this; therefore he is being deceived by the place.

In act 2 scenes 1 Macbeth is preparing to kill King Duncan. Shakespeare uses objects that are like illusion to let the audience know what is going on and to make it more interesting. For example, he uses the image of a dagger, we know this from what Macbeth says , ‘‘is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come let me clutch thee…’’ he uses this language to help the audience understand what is going on. This is not a real dagger, but only an ill-illusion telling him to carry on with this grim task. It may have been imaginary in Shakespeare’s stagecraft, because Macbeth only sees it as an imaginary object, which is deceiving him. Therefore it may not have been a real prop in the play when the people performed it.

Macbeth also hears voices before and after the murder, which are deceiving because he only hears them in his mind. This shows us that he is getting paranoid and these voices are just in his head, we also know that there were sounds of animals that give a chill of horror. This adds to the horrifying scene of the murder and builds up tension because there are owls and crickets being heard in the background. This is significant to the time period of the play because at that time many people believed in superstitions and strange events. They also believed that the noise of owls and crickets were linked with a bad event such as death.

When Macbeth becomes evil, after killing the King he decides it’s time to get rid of his friend, Banquo. In order to do this he has got to plan it first. He has told two murderers that Banquo is their enemy to make them want to kill Banquo in the first place. Shakespeare has included this part of the plot to show deception of the murderers; Macbeth is deceiving them to make them hate Banquo, in order to carry out this murder.

It is also deceiving when Lady Macbeth sees things in her sleep and becomes ill. She imagines that her hands were still bloody; from the night the King was murdered.

And last, but not least, there is another idea of deception in the play; it is when Great Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. This is deceiving in its own way because in reality the wood is not actually coming to Dunsinane, but the people are carrying the trees and making it seem like the wood is coming towards Macbeth, to fight him. This also relates to the prophecies told in the beginning of the play and it is significant to what happens in the end. This deceives Macbeth’s army as they think that the wood is coming towards them and tell Macbeth this news. As soon as Macbeth hears this, he is reminded of the prophecies, which deceive him yet again because it is not really the wood that is coming to fight him, instead his enemies.

Finally I can conclude that Shakespeare has done a great job of representing the theme of deception, appearance vs reality and this is very important when included in the plays. Especially when the play is performed because the main things that needs to be thought about is how the special affects are going to be shown, for e.g. the witches, apparitions and the ghost. These are things that attract people to watch the drama in the first place. I can conclude that the play is all about the battle between good and evil, which also relates to the theme of deception. Deception plays a major part in this play, and I think that it is trying to give the audience a message about deceiving and how things/people are not always what they seem to be. As I have explained in my essay Shakespeare has used language, imagery and stagecraft to illustrate the theme of deception and to show the audience how Shakespeare has made things seem different to what they really are in order to mislead the audience and characters. The language such has as “fair is foul, and foul is fair” (1.1) is just an example of how Shakespeare uses language to trick people. How can fair be foul and foul be fair? It is not something that you would normally come across therefore the play is very well known and liked by many. The deceptions are just ways in which to get people thinking and to prove that everything is not what it looks like on the outside, there may be things hidden away in the inside. For example, the character of Macbeth was not what he seemed like in the beginning of the play because his character has changed dramatically in the audience’s eyes. He went from being a brave and courageous soldier to an evil and wicked ruler. I think his ambition has deceived him and he was overwhelmed at the thought of becoming king that he didn’t think of the consequences. Overall I think Shakespeare has used the idea of deception very cleverly in the play, Macbeth to get the audience attention and to make it very appealing to the audience. He has done this by using characters, supernatural elements, places and objects, which are not what they seem. It is very similar to the saying, ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’, because you don’t know what’s inside the story unless you read it. Similarly Shakespeare is giving the impression that characters, stagecraft, and many other things are not exactly what they seem.

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Macbeth Appearance vs Reality Quotes

Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air.

– William Shakespeare

What are these So wither’d and so wild in their attire, That look not like the inhabitants o’ the earth, And yet are on ‘t?

Say, from whence You owe this strange intelligence? or why Upon this blasted heath you stop our way With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you.

have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner - Banquo to Macbeth

Or have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner?

Cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor: 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, Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings: My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function Is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is But what is not.

And nothing is But what is not.

There’s no art To find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built An absolute trust.

Would thou hadst less deserved… More is thy due than more than all can pay.

Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires: The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.

look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under 't

Your face, my thane, is as a book where men May read strange matters. To beguile the time, Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under ‘t.

This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses.

This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve, By his loved mansionry, that the heaven’s breath Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze, Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle: Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed, The air is delicate.

He’s here in double trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself.

We shall make our griefs and clamour roar Upon his death.

False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

Is this a dagger which I see before me - Macbeth soliloquy

Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?

Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going; And such an instrument I was to use.

Mine eyes are made the fools o’ the other senses, Or else worth all the rest.

Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your noble strength, to think So brainsickly of things.

Those of his chamber, as it seem’d, had done ‘t: Their hands and faces were an badged with blood; So were their daggers, which unwiped we found Upon their pillows: They stared, and were distracted; no man’s life Was to be trusted with them.

There’s daggers in men’s smiles.

God’s benison go with you; and with those That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!

Must lave our honours in these flattering streams, And make our faces vizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are.

You know your own degrees; sit down: at first And last the hearty welcome. …Ourself will mingle with society, And play the humble host.

Now, good digestion wait on appetite, And health on both!

MACBETH: The table’s full. LENNOX: Here is a place reserved, sir. …MACBETH: Which of you have done this? LORDS: What, my good lord?

Sit, worthy friends: my lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat; The fit is momentary; upon a thought He will again be well: if much you note him, You shall offend him and extend his passion: Feed, and regard him not.

O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear: This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said, Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts, Impostors to true fear, would well become A woman’s story at a winter’s fire, Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all’s done, You look but on a stool.

LADY MACBETH: What, quite unmann’d in folly? MACBETH: If I stand here, I saw him.

Can such things be, And overcome us like a summer’s cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange Even to the disposition that I owe, When now I think you can behold such sights, And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, When mine is blanched with fear.

Appearance vs. Reality: Macbeth

‘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.

The appearance of the predictions lures him, and the reality behind them destroys Macbeth. The Witches introduce the theme with the infamous phrase “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” 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”.

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The Witches continue to speak in contradicting language, such as “lesser than Macbeth, and greater” and “Not so happy, yet much happier” 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.

Until his death, King Duncan was misled by Macbeth’s false loyalty. When the Thane of Cawdor had been found guilty of being a traitor and was hanged, King Duncan thought so highly of Macbeth, that he gave the title to him. The Thane then ironically dies with pride while Macbeth dies a foe of Scotland. The King was under the impression that Macbeth was a loyal and brave soldier, calling him “O worthiest cousin”, but Macbeth was actually already planning to kill the King, “whose murder yet is but fantastical”.

Even when Duncan goes to visit Macbeth, he praises the castle’s pleasant environment and hospitality, “This castle hath a pleasant seat”, but is totally unaware of Macbeth’s plans to murder him. From the first time we meet Lady Macbeth, we get the impression of a strong-willed and bold person, an ideal wife. As the play evolves, Macbeth grows stronger and Lady Macbeth begins to despair, commits suicide and proves to be the antithesis of an ideal wife.

She seems to lack conscience, saying “A little water clears us of this deed”, but towards the end her conscience drives her mad and she sleepwalks, washing her hands and saying “Out, damned spot! ” refering to the blood she imagines to see on her hands as a result of her plaguy conscience. In conclusion, interestingly Macbeth’s first line in the play is “So foul and fair a day I have not seen”, suggesting Macbeth as the focus of the play’s moral confusion.

Within him the conflict between good and evil continue, in the end driving him to his death. It’s clear to see that Shakespeare identified in life what he saw as the world’s fatal flaw, the inability to distinguish between appearance and reality, using Macbeth as a tool to communicate this. Throughout the play appearances, which are often deceitful, influence the whole plot of the play. It comes out mainly through the way Macbeth saw Kingship as a form of security and prestige but was then faced with even stronger feelings of insecurity and fear.

Hamlet Appearance vs Reality

When Hamlet’s mother chastises him for his overly intense grief, she asks him why, if death is universal, “Why seems it then so particular with thee”? (1. 2. 78) He responds, “ ‘Seems,” madam? Nay, it is. I know not ‘seems’ ”(1. 2. 79).

With those words, Hamlet delineates between appearance and reality, a theme that continues throughout the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare. The idea of appearance versus reality defines three characters in particular: Hamlet, Polonius, and Kind Claudius.The paradox of discrepancy between appearance versus reality is that sometimes, to find reality or truth, one has to act fake himself in order to find out the true nature of others. The two characters who use this theme for unjust purposes ultimately fail, but Hamlet is appearing as something he is not only to discover the truth. Even though Hamlet’s tragic death ends the play, he ultimately finds the truth and accomplishes his ultimate purpose, while Polonius and King Claudius could have easily avoided their deaths by remaining loyal and truthful to their loved ones and to themselves. CHANGE AROUND THIS LAST SENTENCE, I THINK ITS CONFUSING) King Claudius is perhaps the one who puts on the biggest act out of all these characters. Claudius’s personality is completely false, especially when it comes to his pretended love for Hamlet and the supposed grief he has for his dead brother.

When the audience first sees Claudius,it seems that he is sincere in his grief for his brother. He describes to the court his mixed emotions concerning his brother’s death and his hasty marriage: Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death The memory be green, and that it us befittedTo bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe, Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with wisest sorrow think on him Together with remembrance of ourselves (1. 2. 1-7). Claudius is careful to appear to be grieving and anxious to show that his recent marriage does not mean disrespect to his brother. In the same scene he also presents himself as a good king, sending ambassadors to deal with the problem of Fortinbras and granting permission to Laertes to return to France, and he demonstrates the ability to handle issues at court.However, when the Ghost reveals to Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius, the audience realizes that the reality of Claudius’ inner character is very different from the appearance he presents.

Claudius’s motive for creating a false appearance is to cover up the reality of his crime. Claudius hides his crime even from his wife, Gertrude. She clearly hasn’t been an accomplice because the Ghost specifically instructs Hamlet, “Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive/Against thy Mother aught” (1. 5. 92-93). Even his wife, Gertrude, doesn’t know who Claudius really is.If the audience has any question about old Hamlet being murdered by his brother, that doubt is removed when Claudius’s false appearance is stripped away as he unsuccessfully attempts to pray: But, O, what form of prayer Can serve my turn? ‘Forgive me my foul murder’? That cannot be, since I am still possessed Of those effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.

(3. 3. 55-59) Once alone, Claudius reveals the truth. When Claudius realizes that Hamlet is onto him, he goes to great lengths to try to get rid of Hamlet so that he can maintain his false appearance of innocence.When the plot to send Hamlet to his death in England fails, Claudius, like Polonius and Hamlet, sets up a false scene in an attempt to have Hamlet killed. The sword fight at the end of the play is meant to appear as a friendly sport, but in reality, it is all just Claudius’s plan for murder by poisoned wine or poisoned sword tips. Claudius’s actions are arguably the most corrupt of all, although at times, Polonius’s deeds throughout the play are almost as unjust as Claudius’s (CHANGE SENTENCE AROUND? ) Even though Polonius’s reasons for his false appearance aren’t to cover up a murder, his motives are still less than admirable.

Polonius sets up his multiple fake appearances by creating scenes to be enacted, just as the director in a play would. For example, Polonius first portrays himself as a wise father saying goodbye to his son, but once Laertes has arrived in France, Polonius sends a spy, Reynaldo, after him, proving he is not the trusting, all-knowing father he claims to be. In Polonius’s elaborate instructions for Reynaldo, he orders Reynaldo to come close to slandering Laertes so he can find out the truth of Laertes’s behavior: “Your bait of falsehood take this carp of truth”(2. 1. 70).In a slightly different way, Polonius sets up another spy scene, this time, to get information about Hamlet. He betrays his daughter by using her as bait to gain information about Hamlet, just as he betrayed Laertes by having him spied upon.

Although Polonius does find out that Hamlet’s appearance of insanity is not out of love for Ophelia, he causes his daughter great anguish in the process. Polonius’s final subterfuge occurs when he insists on his secret presence at the confrontation between Hamlet and Gertrude. Ultimately, Polonius’s deceitfulness brings him to his death.Although Hamlet is like Polonius in the sense that he uses false appearances in order to ascertain the truth, his motifs in doing so are much more morally sound. Hamlet adopts what he calls an “antic disposition,” so that he only appears to be insane. He creates this false appearance so that he has the freedom to gather information from people without being suspected of anything unusual, therefore using false appearance to find the reality of the truth. Hamlet’s first act of craziness occurs when he is talking to Ophelia “ungartered and down-gyved to his ankle” (2.

1. 90). nd she reports his strange condition to her father. Hamlet persists in this false behavior throughout most of the play. Besides trying to find the truth, Hamlet uses his supposed condition to make fun of Polonius and belittle him slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here that old men have gray beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging think amber and plum-tree gum, and thst they have a plentiful laxk of wit, together with most weak hams; all which,sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down”(2. 2. 215-220).

SOME SORT OF EXPLANATION OF IMPORTANCE OR SOME SENTENCE EXPLAINING THIS? ) Hamlet sets up a clever scene to rid himself of other enemies: he turns the tables on Rosencrantz and Guilderstern, who are supposed to be Hamlet’s childhood friends, by reversing the Claudius’s orders for Hamlet’s death so that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are killed. But Hamlet’s greatest achievement through the creation of a false appearance is his production of “The Mousetrap,” the play within a play. By using drama, Hamlet creates a fictional device--an illusion--to find the reality of the truth, by observing Claudius’s reaction to the play.Hamlet is certain he has exposed Claudius’s guilt when he stops the play and cries out, “Give me some light. Away! ”(3. 2. 295).

This scene is very important in the development of Hamlet’s revenge because it ultimately gives him the confidence he needs to execute the murder. All three characters create false appearances, but all for different reasons. Claudius creates a false appearance to mask his crime while both Polonius and Hamlet use appearances to deviously find information. However, Polonius exhibits no concern for morality in his actions, which is where he differs from Hamlet.Hamlet is driven to create a false appearance because of his loyalty towards his father. Even though the idea of revenge itself may be questionable, his love for his father and his desire to right the wrong that has been done to him are more honorable than the motives of the other characters. Quotes for Claudius Acts like he is sad about his brother dying “whose whisper o’er the world’s diameter, as levels as the cannon to his blank transports his poisoned shot, may miss our name and hit the woundless air.

oh come away! My soul is full of discord and dismay! ”- Claudius, act 4 scene 1, lines 42-46.Acts like he cares about hamlet "and that it us befitted/To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom/To be contracted in one brow of woe" (Shakespeare I 2 2-4)"our late dear brother's death" (Shakespeare I 2 "O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven. /It hath the primal eldest curse upon't/A brother's murder" "It is most retrograde to our desire/And we do beseech you, bend you to remain/Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye" (Shakespeare I 2 114-117). "And he [Hamlet] to England shall along with you [R ; G]" (Shakespeare III 3 4). Claudius also refers to himself as "Thy loving father,Hamlet" (Shakespeare IV 3 50) "Our sovereign process, which imports at full/By letters congruing to that effect/The present death of Hamlet" Quotes for Polonius Sends person to spy on laertes |POLONIUS | |This above all: to thine ownself be true, | |And it must follow, as the night the day, | |Thou canst not then be false to any man. |(1. 3.

1) | Such meaningful words are almost not meaningful at all because polonius is the one that is saying them. He always wants to give advice but he shouldn't been the one doing it, especially when it comes to the truth 3. Polonius (Act II, Scene 2, lines 210-211) Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t. Will you walk out of the air, my lord? Quotes for Guildenstern and Rosencrantz

Macbeth Appearance vs Reality

The role of deception and the motif of appearance and reality had a large role in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. The motif of appearance and reality is first introduced by Shakespeare early on in the play when Macbeth must cover up for the murder of Duncan. This motif of appearance versus reality, or deception, appears again when Macbeth fools the murderers that killed Banquo. Macbeth tricks the murderer’s into believing it was Banquo’s fault that they led such miserable lives when in reality Banquo had nothing to do with them.

Finally, the reader sees this motif of appearance versus reality appear one last time towards the end of the play when Macbeth believes he is invincible and ends up ignoring one of the witches’ prophecies which ultimately leads to his demise. Throughout Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth has the knack to make others believe in him although he is ultimately lying to them. This can be first seen during the murder of King Duncan and his two servants when Macbeth must disguise the fact that he had committed the crime.

Macbeth initially feared committing a crime such as killing Duncan because he had no reason to do it and feared the consequences. Lady Macbeth, however, sensing the weakness in her husband’s heart gives Macbeth a piece of advice; “False face must hide what the false heart doth know. ” (I. VII. 92). Lady Macbeth tells her husband to deceive everyone into believing that neither he nor his wife had anything to do with the murder of Duncan or his servants. After the crime has been committed, both Lennox and Macduff knock on Macbeth’s door.

At this point Macbeth is feeling extremely guilty. However, Lady Macbeth diverts all attention away from Macbeth by fainting. “Help me hence, ho! ” (II. III. 129) During this brief time p Macbeth manages to collect his thoughts and weasels his way out of a hole by lying about his knowledge involving Duncan’s death. As the play progresses Macbeth uses his ability to deceive people to his advantage. He uses this ability to remove suspicion from himself when he kills his best friend, Banquo.

The motif of appearance versus reality was shown to appear after a murder, but as the play wears on it is possible to see that it also occurs before a murder. An ideal example of this can be seen when Macbeth decides to kill Banquo. Macbeth decides to hire professional murderers to carry out the deed of killing Banquo so that he would not have to get his hands dirty. The murderers, stricken by poverty, lead difficult lives and Macbeth uses this fact to manipulate the murderers into believing his lies.

Macbeth blamed the murderers’ hardships on Banquo even though Banquo had nothing to do with it. “Both of you Know Banquo was your enemy. ” (III. I. 124-125). Using the ability to deceive others, Macbeth managed to trick the foolish murderers into believing Banquo was indeed their enemy. He later arranged for a feast to occur on the same day as the murder so that he could have his name cleared from any list of suspicions. Finally, one can also see the concept of appearance vs. reality when the Weird Sisters foretell their prophecies.

One of the three apparitions that the weird sisters made appear before Macbeth was a child holding a tree. This apparition told Macbeth that he “shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him”(4. 1. 105-107) By saying this, the apparition caused Macbeth to gain great confidence, because if taken literally, it then sounds impossible for Macbeth to die. How can a forest move? Well it can’t. The witches used equivocation to deceive Macbeth into thinking that the whole forest needs to move, but reality only parts of the forest need to move.

An example of this would be when each person in Siward’s army carries one piece of the forest to Dunsinane and unknowingly Siward has completed part of the prophecy. Soon after Macbeth receives word of this, “As I did stand my watch upon the hill, /I looked toward Birnam, and anon methought/ the wood began to move. ” (5. 5. 37-39) Once Macbeth gets word of this, he realizes that what he thought was impossible, has just happened. The second apparition is a bloody child. This apparition tells Macbeth to “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn/ The power of man, for none of woman born/ Shall harm Macbeth. (4. 1. 90-92) Because of this apparition Macbeth gains copious confidence. Through his eyes, every man is of woman born, for everyone has a mother. The Weird Sisters, being very devious, do not count being born by a caesarian section as “of woman born” (4. 1. 91) This causes Macbeth to get a since of false security. So through Macbeth’s eyes he appears to be very safe. But in reality there is a dark future in store for him. The last of the three apparitions would be the armed head. This apparition says “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife! Dismiss me. Enough. ” (4. 1. 81-82) This apparition essentially foretells who will kill Macbeth, sadly after hearing the preceding apparition, Macbeth ignores this warning and makes it seem irrelevant. These apparitions have, through Macbeth’s eyes, been nothing but good news. First he hears he will not die until a forest moves to his castle. Then he hears that he should beware Maduff, but then ignores the warning after he hears that anyone born from a woman cannot kill him. Anyone would have gained confidence after having heard this news.

However, the Weird Sisters never speak literally, “the witches' prophesies are intentionally ambiguous” (Lizhi, Ye). So this since of invincibility that Macbeth gets, will later lead to his inevitable yet heroic demise. In conclusion, the concept of appearance vs. reality is found throughout the whole play. This concept of deception is used, but not limited, to Macbeth. Macbeth takes the idea of deception and enhances it to the point of manipulating other people. This not only causes Macbeth to rise to power, but also once he has gained too much confidence, it causes his heroic and inevitable downfall.

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Macbeth Appearance Vs Reality Essay

Macbeth Appearance Vs Reality

Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare during the Renaissance Era. At that time, James I, the Scottish King, became the King of England, and Shakespeare decided to write this play to appeal to his likeness. A tragic drama full of deceit, tension, suspense and the supernatural influenced and shaped this play into a fascinating and intriguing story. The plot begins with a Scottish general named Macbeth, who is praised for winning the battle against the traitors. However Macbeth has a tragic flaw which is his “vaulting ambition.” Little does he know that it would lead him to his demise. Nevertheless, he suffered the consequences of his actions and the Great Chain of Being was restored. The theme of appearance vs. reality will be proven through the characterization of Macbeth throughout the play, the deception of the witches and the battle between Scotland and Norway. Indeed, Macbeth’s behaviour and character between act I and V drastically changed for a previous…

Appearance Vs Reality Macbeth

The way people act on the outside differ from what they feel on the inside. Some people may change to improve themselves to others standards or because they don't feel confident. No matter how much you try to change yourself the truth will always appear. Shakespeare uses the theme of appearance vs reality to develop and hide the darkness and true identity of the characters. Banquo, Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth all truly hide the type of people they are in the real world. Throughout the play their…

Appearance Vs Reality In Macbeth

Man’s nature is one which allows even the best of men to live under a shadow of false pretence whilst still appearing to be virtuous. Macbeth happens to be one of those types of men whom at the start of the novel, is introduced as a nobleman and a fearless warrior who provides exemplary service to his king yet this man is revealed to possess murderous thoughts in his heart rendering him capable of plotting against his king and usurping the throne. By studying the play Macbeth by William…

Appearances vs. Reality in Macbeth What is the truth hiding behind the masks? To the naked eye it may seem normal, but it could all be a lie. On the outside a normal, kind human being, but the inside a monster waits. It will only be a matter of time till everything catches up to the person who hides their real identity. Appearances vs. reality in Macbeth have three main focus points: how sinister Lady Macbeth is in reality, how the guilt is in Macbeth on the outside vs. on the inside, and how…

Examples Of Appearance Vs Reality In Macbeth

Appearance vs Reality is the distinction between the judgemental truth and the factual truth. To hide the reality, the world manifests more than one aspect of the circumstance. And, often reveals the matter that can satisfy or benefit oneself. Also, in order to conceal the earnest intention, one’s demeanor contradicts with the truth. Similarly, in Macbeth, the witches act duplicitous and decides Macbeth’s fate, to become king but for a limited time. The fate motivates Macbeth to become king and…

The Theme Of Appearance Vs. Reality In Macbeth

Ms. Boas LA Block 5/6 16 November 2015 Appearance vs. Reality The discrepancy between appearance and reality is the central concern of the play. The theme presents a knotty idea that nothing is what is seems. We live in a world where nothing and no one can be trusted; not the dreams, apparitions, or the witches. William Shakespeare uses the paradoxical motif “Fair is foul and foul is fair” to express the theme of appearance versus reality, emphasizing Macbeth’s distrust within Macbeth. Before…

future, would you believe it? The character of Macbeth walks a fine line along the edge of what's real and what isn’t. The contrast between appearance and reality, whether it be through visions or prophecy, provides an additional experience when reading the play, Macbeth By William Shakespeare. The Witches in the play give Macbeth a prophecy, more specifically, a prophecy about his future. Their motivation for this action was the idea that telling Macbeth his future, will influence him to…

Theme Of Appearance Vs Reality In Macbeth

Appearance Vs Reality People have assumed false identities in the interest of their own personal gain for years. Often times blinded by their greed and self assuredness they act brashly and make mistakes; This leads to others discovering their true intentions as well as a bevy of consequences for their wrong doings. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth written in 1606, the theme of appearance versus reality is most present when examining Lady Macbeth. Through the reveal of her her true intentions in…

Appearance Vs. Reality In William Shakespeare's Macbeth

Snowbeth which is Macbeth with a fairytale twists, specifically the original version of snow white. We have chosen to keep the plot, line and characters as similar to Macbeth as possible and incorporate elements of snow white like the iconic apple. We tried to emphasis the horror element of the play as well as the major themes in every scene. Costumes and Props Visons: our costume choices were made to intertwine Macbeth and snow white, and reflect the theme appearance vs reality when possible. …

Appearance Vs. Reality In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

Every person has fallen victim to appearance versus reality at least once in his/her lifetime. It is human nature to see a person and judge him/her on how they dress alone. People allow the sense of sight by itself to make all of his/her inferences on that person. William Shakespeare illustrates the way appearance versus reality can be used in many different ways through his play Macbeth. This play is set in medieval times and starts in the middle of a civil war in Scotland. A man named Macbeth…

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Appearance vs Reality in Macbeth Essay
The very first differing degree of appearance and reality is spilt by the three witches. Whatever they predict isn't what it sounds like. Their half-truth deceives Macbeth. They don't act, they only speak and their words activate whatever dormant in the listener and that's when a character reveals what it really is rather than what it may ...
Macbeth Appearance vs Reality Essay
Macbeth Appearance vs Reality Essay. Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare that is set in Scotland. The story follows Macbeth, who is Thane of Glamis, as he becomes Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland. Macbeth is a tragic figure who starts out as a good man, but is corrupted by his own ambition and ends up killing Duncan, the rightful ...
PDF Appearance vs Reality
The difference between appearance and reality, and the deception that is possible because of this, is at the heart of the tragedy of Macbeth. The outward appearance of the Macbeths as trustworthy and innocent enables them to get away with their plot to murder Duncan and ascend the throne. Loyalty and trust are juxtaposed by the ultimate ...
What is the theme of Appearance vs. Reality in Macbeth
Appearance versus reality is a strong theme in Shakespeare's Macbeth, as the play involves a misty landscape, witches, a ghost, a goddess, mental illness, and self-deception. From the outset of ...
Appearance and Reality in Macbeth Analysis
Conclusion. In conclusion, appearance versus reality is a central theme in Shakespeare's Macbeth. The characters of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and the witches all embody this theme through their deceptive actions and manipulation of appearances.Through the use of symbolism and imagery, Shakespeare explores the consequences of self-deception and the destructive power of illusion.
Appearance Versus Reality in Macbeth
The theme of appearance versus reality is central to the Shakespearean play The Tragedy of Macbeth. It is a play full of ambition, betrayal, madness, and the supernatural. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth must hide their true thoughts in order to prevent others from knowing what they have done while different characters comment on the difficulty.
Themes
Revise and learn about the themes of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth with BBC Bitesize GCSE English Literature (AQA).
What are three examples of appearance vs. reality in Macbeth
Expert Answers. Appearance is often different from reality in Macbeth. We see one example of this when Duncan arrives at Macbeth 's castle. He speaks at length about the pleasantness of Macbeth's ...
Macbeth: Appearance Vs. Reality
Reality. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" (1.1.12) is the infamous line that begins Shakespeare's Macbeth . This line highlights the relationship between one's appearance and the reality of their nature. In this play the connection between appearance and reality is paradoxical; what appears in one a way in reality may not be that way.
Appearance vs. Reality in Macbeth Essay Topics
Appearance vs. Reality in Macbeth Essay Topics. Clio has taught education courses at the college level and has a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction. Shakespeare's ''Macbeth'' is one of his ...
Theme Of Appearance In Macbeth: [Essay Example], 749 words
Published: Mar 14, 2024. In Shakespeare's renowned tragedy, Macbeth, the theme of appearance versus reality plays a central role in shaping the narrative and characters. From the very beginning, the play sets the stage for a complex exploration of how things are not always as they seem. As characters manipulate their appearances to deceive and ...
Macbeth Appearance Vs. Reality Essay Plan
5) Banquo is the most subtle example of appearance vs reality. He successfully hides his ambition. Unlike the others his mask is never unveiled due to his untimely demise at the hands of Macbeth. Quotes: Noble Banquo. Too cruel anywhere (the murder) Bosom franchised and allegiance clear. I fight of treasonous malice.
GCSE English Literature
Watch our video to see how we uncover the theme of appearance vs reality in Macbeth. For more videos, lessons and quizzes on Shakespeare's Macbeth, sign up f...
Macbeth by William Shakespeare: A Study Guide on Themes and Literary
Paradox — A statement that contradicts itself but holds a truth, like the witches' chant, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair," reflects the moral inversion and the theme of appearance versus reality in the play. Soliloquy — These are speeches delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing their inner thoughts and feelings. Macbeth ...
The Two Faced King and Queen: Appearance vs Reality in Macbeth
In Act four and five, the theme of appearance versus reality is first emphasized through the external and internal actions displayed by Macbeth. In Act 4, when Macbeth meets with the witches, one of the witches states, "Something wicked this way comes" (4:1: 44-45). They say that Macbeth is a wicked, mean, and cruel man.
macbeth- appearance vs reality
Macbeth is a very interesting character created by Shakespeare because he is very diverse throughout the play. In other words he was known as a very loyal and brave warrior at the beginning of the play, as the King gave him the title of the 'Thane of Glamis'. We can immediately see that he is liked and respected by the King and the people ...
PDF Macbeth: Themes Appearance vs Reality
Appearance vs. Reality The difference between appearance and reality, and the deception that is possible because of this, is at the heart of the tragedy of Macbeth. The outward appearance of the Macbeths as trustworthy and innocent enables them to get away with their plot to murder Duncan and ascend the throne. Loyalty and trust are
How does the theme of appearance versus reality affect the plot and
The theme of appearance versus reality affect plot and character development in both The Great Gatsby and Macbeth.In The Great Gatsby, appearance versus reality can be seen in the eponymous ...
Macbeth Appearance vs Reality Quotes
Hamlet. Macbeth Appearance vs Reality Quotes. Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air. - William Shakespeare. Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 1. This couplet is chanted by the three Witches when they get together during a storm to talk about their future meeting with Macbeth. The incantation "Fair is foul, and foul is ...
Macbeth: Themes
However, having a really good grasp of the following themes, and crucially, why Shakespeare is exploring these themes, will enable you to produce a "conceptualised response" in your exam: Ambition and Power. The Supernatural. Appearance versus Reality. Corruption of Nature.
Appearance vs. Reality: Macbeth
Macbeth Appearance vs Reality. The role of deception and the motif of appearance and reality had a large role in Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. The motif of appearance and reality is first introduced by Shakespeare early on in the play when Macbeth must cover up for the murder of Duncan. This motif of appearance versus reality, or deception ...
Macbeth Appearance Vs Reality Essay
Macbeth Appearance Vs Reality. Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare during the Renaissance Era. At that time, James I, the Scottish King, became the King of England, and Shakespeare decided to write this play to appeal to his likeness. A tragic drama full of deceit, tension, suspense and the supernatural influenced and shaped this ...

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