Two Examples Of Equivocation In Macbeth

Equivocation is defined as speech intended to mislead or deceive. The idea that things are not always as they seem is a common element in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Characters’ actions seem to be led by the idea that things are not what they seem, and this often leads to turmoil. The Three Witches, for example, use equivocation to manipulate the actions of the other characters in the play, this is one way that the three witches manipulate the events of the natural world. Language is a tool that can often be more powerful than the supernatural.

The three witches manipulate the thoughts of Macbeth by revealing small amounts of significant information in their predictions. In Act 1, Scene 3, the witches say, “All hail, Macbeth, that shall be king hereafter!” (1.3.53). At this point, Macbeth knows only that he is Thane of Glamis. The witches also tell Macbeth that he is Thane of

Cawdor; Macbeth doesn’t yet know that the Thane of Cawdor has been slain in battle. Macbeth dismisses the predictions made by the tree witches, because he knows only that he is Thane of Glamis; and to be Thane of Cawdor as well as king is a ridiculous thought. Once Macbeth learns that the Thane of Cawdor was slain in battle, he is determined to make the witches’ third prediction come true. To become king, Macbeth has to kill the current king, a thought that would have never occurred to him if the witches hadn’t put the idea into his head. By revealing very little, the witches manipulate Macbeth’s thoughts so that the only thing he can think of is becoming king. The witches used equivocation to inspire a murder that might not have happened, had Macbeth never been told he would become king.
The apparition of the bloody child was used by the three witches to lead Macbeth into a false sense of immortality. In Act 4, Scene 1, the bloody child says, “Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” (4.1.90-92). The bloody child makes Macbeth think that no man will harm him, because every man has to be woman born. This makes Macbeth believe that he is untouchable, and that he can do whatever he pleases, because nobody is going to harm him. A false sense of immortality makes Macbeth much more confident in his ability to keep his power, even though there will be a battle to take it from him. Macbeth believes that nobody will harm him, so there is no danger in going into battle. In the resolution of the play, Macbeth learns that Malcolm was not born of woman, but rather was ripped prematurely from his mother’s womb. Macbeth realizes at this time that he was misled by the apparition of the bloody child, and begins to fear for his life. The three witches used the apparition of the child to give Macbeth a false sense of immortality, which led to his murder at the hand of Malcolm.
The witches used apparitions to manipulate Macbeth more than they used their own words.

In Act 4, Scene 1, the crowned child says, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.” (4.1.105-107). This leads Macbeth to believe that he will not be harmed until the forest moves, which he knows to be impossible. By some sort of force, whether it be fate or the supernatural at the hands of the three witches, the plan of Macbeth’s enemy is to use branches from the forest as a disguise. Macbeth believes that his throne is safe, because the forest cannot move. When he is informed that the forest is moving toward the castle, he believes that the natural order of the universe has come undone. Macbeth never believed that the apparitions’ prophecies would come true, so when they begin to, Macbeth believes that there must be something supernatural at hand. The witches, however, used a tool more powerful than the supernatural. The three witches used language to manipulate the thoughts of Macbeth, and the events of the natural

world.