Macbeth Appearance Vs Reality Analysis

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair,/ Hover through the fog and filthy air.” (1.1. 12-13). This quote describes the main theme throughout the play Macbeth. In the William Shakespeare play Macbeth, a Scottish soldier named Macbeth is given predictions by three strange and mysterious witches. Among the predictions, Macbeth was named King of Scotland which then leads him and his wife onto a path of darkness with them stopping at nothing until Macbeth seizes kingship. Throughout the play of Macbeth, the recurring theme of appearance versus reality is shown by the characters’ actions and dialog which helps the reader’s understanding of the play. There are three main instances that this theme appears: Duncan explaining how appearances can be misleading,

Lady Macbeth using her sweet and innocent personality to deceive the public, and the witches appearing to be giving Macbeth predictions that aid him, but are really giving him false hope.
King Duncan describes how appearances cannot be trusted.

Macbeth wants to hear news on the execution of Cawdor, and Malcolm, his son, tells him that the Thane of Cawdor died. Malcolm also notes that the Thane confessed his treasons before he died. Duncan responds with, “There’s no art/ To find the mind’s construction in the face./ He was a gentleman on whom I built/ An absolute trust.” (1.4. 12-14). Duncan is explaining that someone’s outward appearance may be misleading, and says that trust is a dangerous thing. Even if someone appears to be a trustworthy person, he could act completely different. Duncan admits his mistake of trusting the Thane of Cawdor, and uses it as an example to trust no one. This tells the reader that maybe Duncan should not trust Macbeth since he makes him the new Thane of Cawdor

and

has complete confidence in him. Appearances should not be placed with personalities which ultimately makes the reader rethink each character.
Lady Macbeth is looked upon as the beloved wife of Macbeth that would not even hurt a fly, but perhaps she is not how she appears to be.

After Macbeth murders Duncan and Lady Macbeth plants the daggers on the servants, the murder was revealed to the entire castle. Everyone was in shock and disbelief that their king had been murdered in the safety of Macbeth’s castle. When all the commotion begins, Lady Macbeth emerges from her chambers and says “What’s the business/ That such hideous trumpet calls parley/ The sleepers of the house.?” (2.3. 75-76). Lady Macbeth also responds with “What, in our house?” (2.3. 80). With Lady Macbeth responding in this way, she is obviously trying to act as if she was not involved with Duncan’s murder. This is an instance where the theme appearance versus reality shows up. Lady Macbeth appears to be innocent, but in reality, she is involved with high treason. From this point forward, the reader now sees Lady Macbeth as a deceiving and manipulative character that will do anything it takes for her husband to become king. Edel Coffey agrees by stating “Lady Macbeth is obsessed with power and will do anything to get it.” For the rest of the play, the reader will see Lady Macbeth as a suspicious

character.
More suspicious characters including Hecate and the witches who clearly show signs of Hecate meets with the witches before they meet with Macbeth for the final time. She tells the witches that they should not have met with Macbeth without consulting her about it. Hecate is saying to the Witches that she will help them with their prophecies using her magic by “As by the strength of their illusion/ Shall draw him on to his confusion./ He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear/ His hopes ‘bove wisdom, grace, and fear./ And you all know, security/ Is mortals’ chiefest enemy.” (3.5. 28-33). Hecate is saying that the predictions that they give with fill Macbeth with confidence and security, but worded so they could be interpreted in different ways. The Witches are misleading Macbeth and giving him false hope. The Witches appear to be assisting Macbeth in his path to kingship, but in reality are deceiving him and eventually predict his downfall. The reader now finally understands that the Witches are out to get Macbeth. In the beginning of the play, the Witches did act suspicious, but only told Macbeth prophecies that predicted a successful future. At this point, the reader knows for sure that the Witches are up to no good.
The theme of appearance versus reality in Macbeth assists the reader by uncovering the truth behind characters. King Duncan tells Malcolm that appearances may be deceiving. Lady Macbeth tries to appear to others as an honest and pure wife, but is actually a devious and scheming women who will not stop until she gets what she wants. Finally, Hecate and the Witches appear to be aiding Macbeth on his quest to become king, but truly are leading Macbeth to his downfall. In today’s world, appearance versus reality is exposed to the public everyday. With drugs and cigarettes, they appear to be a substance that can make someone cooler, but in reality, they can be quite harmful. People should be careful in trusting an appearance, but should beware of the consequences.