Appearances seen by the naked eye are often misinterpreted than the ones portrayed by reality. In the world today, being accepted into a particular group is the ideal way to live in order to gain popularity. People hide their true qualities in order to conceal their faults to gain such acceptance. Appearances that contrast with reality are an important theme in the play, The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The play portrayed the theme in the figure of a man named Macbeth as he deceives his fellow comrades. Throughout the play Macbeth comities multiply crimes by the influence of his wife in order to conceal his intentions of becoming king. Lady Macbeth motivated Macbeth to act as a savage; a personality that was not his own. The desire to have the throne, urged Macbeth to appear loyal to Duncan while harboring the thoughts of murdering him. In order to hide the fact that Macbeth killed the king, he deceived his friend Banquo. By the influence of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth portrayed himself with false appearance in order to mislead others. By analyzing and inferring from the quotations in the play, the deception of Macbeth to Duncan, Banquo and Lady Macbeth and his motivations will be explained. In order to hide his true intentions of becoming king, Macbeth had to project an image as a loyal general to the king. Upon his arrival in Forres, Macbeth told Duncan that he would do “everything / Safe toward your love and honor” (act 1 scene 4 line 30-21) which interprets as a false statement since during his conversation with the witches, Macbeth was thinking of murdering the king instead of protecting him. Macbeth did not admit that he wanted to be the king, but it could be inferred through his grim reaction when the witches told h... ... middle of paper ... ...r the death of Duncan, Macbeth was still pretending that he was a loyal, he states “Had I but died an hour before this chance, /I had lived a blessèd time, for from Fhis instant / There’s nothing serious in mortality” (act 2 scene 3 lines 96-96) in front of thanes and his wife. Lady Macbeth is not deceived by the proclamation of her husband as the others due to her instructions indicated towards Macbeth, “go back to our bedroom… Get on your nightgown… / And show us to be watchers…”(2.2) the night after the king was murdered. Macbeth was urged to deceive others due to the orders of Lady Macbeth. Macbeth deceived Duncan and Banquo, since he was motivated by his ambition, fear, and the influence of Lady Macbeth. Deceptions of Macbeth lead to the death of many characters in the play. No matter the reason for deception, it must be done ethically and be morally accepted.
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."
...en shown that Lady Macbeth's deception did have a dramatic change on the play and it lead to the changes of many others fates of others including the death of Banquo, the death of Lady Macbeth, and the death of Macbeth himself. This all could of been avoided if Macbeth simply stayed in line and had not listening to the witches which he would have not done if it was not for his deceivious wife and her simple mindedness. It is believed that Lady Macbeth's decision of the killings lead to the pointless slaughters that Macbeth ordered to secure his spot as the king. “None of woman born shall harm Macbeth”, another big factor was that Macbeth was told none of woman born would be able to kill him, this gave him the thought that he had tremendous power and invincibility leading to an easy and unexpected downfall for him but clear for the audience that his end was coming.
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
When the play started Macbeth was a very loyal person towards the King, therefore the King treated Macbeth like a son. The king tells Macbeth that he is in great debt to Macbeth and there is no amount of money or land to repay Macbeth for his services. Macbeth responds to the King telling him that all he wants is for the King to accept his services and duties to his throne and kingdom (Act I, scene IV). Macbeth shows a great deal of friendliness when he invites King Duncan to his house (Act I, scene VI ). Macbeth is thoughtful and very compassionate in the way of the king but without the King's knowledge he has a plan to kill the King while the King is sleeping.
After a long and hard battle, the Sergeant says to King Duncan, “For brave Macbeth,-well he deserves that name,- disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel, which smok’d with bloody execution , like valour’s minion carv’d out his passage till he fac’d the slave;” (1.2.16) . This quote shows that Macbeth is viewed as a valiant soldier and a capable leader. However, it does not take long for the real Macbeth to be revealed- a blindly ambitious man, easily manipulated by the prospect of a higher status. His quest for power is what drives his insanity, and after having been deemed the Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth’s ambition can immediately be seen. In a soliloquy, Macbeth says, “Present fears are less than horrible imaginings; my thought, whose murder yet is but fantastica, shakes so my single state of man that function is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is but what is not” (1.3.140). Macbeth has just gained more power, and his immediate thought is of how to gain an even higher status as king. He imagines how to kill Duncan, and then is troubled by his thoughts, telling himself it is wrong. This inner struggle between Macbeth’s ambition and his hesitation to kill Duncan is the first sure sign of his mental deterioration. Although Macbeth does kill Duncan, he questions whether or not he should to do so, which is far different from how Macbeth feels about murder later in the play. Macbeth becomes king, and this power leads
Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare illustrates Macbeth’s journey to becoming a ruthless and tyrannical man who will do anything and everything to gain more power. Macbeth’s actions of killing prove Machiavelli’s theory that men are cowardly and dishonest, which leads those similar to Macbeth, to believe being feared is safer than being loved. Macbeth has demonstrated Machiavelli’s theory by his actions of murder and betrayal towards individuals, such as Banquo, under his ruling. Macbeth believes that being feared is safer than loved by his people, which causes citizens under his ruling to think he is a bad king. Since individuals believe Macbeth is a negligent king due to his cowardly and dishonest actions, individuals won’t put their trust or
Following the meeting with the witches, Macbeth begins to think about killing Duncan and taking the throne by force. Macbeth becomes concerned with the witches prophesies and wants to learn more, as we can see from what he says after they leave, "Would they have stayed!" (1.3.82). After this, he begins thinking about his desire to be king. We can see that he is thinking about murdering Duncan from his soliloquy, "Stars, hide your fires, /Let not light see my black and deep desires;" (1.5.50-51). Macbeth has begun his path to corruption.
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.
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.
Deception is used throughout the play by most every character. Macbeth deceives Duncan, the people of Scotland, and his friend Banquo. Lady Macbeth uses deceit to murder Duncan, and later tries to deceive herself. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth get tangled in their lies and deception. Lady Macbeth commits suicide at the end of the play because she cannot bear the grief anymore. The witches deceitfulness leads to Macbeth’s down fall, and throughout the play, deception caused lots of senseless tragedy.
The play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, entails a tragic hero who cannot control his lustful nature. Malcolm used the theme “appearances can be deceiving” to challenge Macduff’s allegiance. Although Macbeth killed in a slyly manner, he was not the only one. This leads him to silently kill a plethora of people. Lady Macbeth applied deception to beguile others of the killings of King Duncan and Banquo. Therefore, the theme “appearances can be deceiving” is developed utilizing the characters of Malcolm, Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth.
Lastly, deceit tricked the Macbeths’ into wanting the throne and the land of Scotland in the first place. This is shown when the witches deceive Macbeth to think of becoming king. Such is implied when the third witch says, “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.” (I. iii. 51). The witches’ predictions planted the thought into his head, and by receiving the Thane of Cawdor meant to him he was destined to be king. Then Lady Macbeth hearing the news deceives Macbeth into committing treason to get the title of queen. As she states, “…Hie thee hither/ That I may pour my spirits in thine ear/ And chastise with the valor of my tongue…” (I. v. 25-26). She will soon trick him into doing her biding, which is to guarantee he take the throne
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.
Macbeth is a very complex character whom reflects man's thirst for power through the drastic changes of his personality; thus being one of the slightest reasons in which make this intriguing character, greatest of all Shakespearean’s well-known works.