Shakespeare play: Macbeth

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In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the common theme of contrast between appearance and reality is woven throughout each of the five acts in the play. Shakespeare does this constantly during the play, and even goes as far as to use the contrast between appearance and reality as the basis for the plot of the story. In Act one, Scene one, one of the most famous quotes in all of literature is spoken: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair/ Hover through the fog and filth air.” While if interpreted literally, it makes no sense because the words fair and foul are antonyms, the reader (or viewer if the play is being seen) must recognize that this really implies that the appearance of something may not be the actuality. In Act one, Scene two the Captain speaks the following words: “And Fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling, / Showed like a rebel’s whore. But all’s too weak; For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name-/ Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel, / Which smoked with bloody execution, / like Valor’s minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave.” There are two examples of disparity between appearance and reality here. First, Macdonwald seemed to be favored by fate in his rebellion, but was slain by Macbeth. The second is where Macbeth is described as “Valor’s minion.” Though his actions in defense of Duncan are righteous, his later assassination of Duncan show than Macbeth is not the valorous servant everyone thought he was. In the next scene, when Macbeth has his first encounter with the witches, he says, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” He utters these words in reference to the victory he has just achieved over the revolting Macdonwald. The triumph, while beautiful, or fair, was also bloody, or foul. This also marks the beginning of his ascendancy to kingship, which is fair, while it is also the genesis of his fall to the powers of evil. Later in Act two, Scene three, The first and second witch, respectively, say the following two lines in reference to Banquo: “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.” “Not so happy, yet much happier.” While Banqou is a lower rank than Macbeth, he is the better human, and while Banquo may not be as ecstatic to hear his future, he is the most content with his life. Maceth then offers these words

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