True Lies
Shakespeare's Macbeth is saturated with thought-provoking situations and enigmas. Many of these enigmas are contradictions or overlapping puzzles. Equivocations, or things said alongside their opposites, occur often in the play. The presence of the supernatural also enhances the eluding effect. Finally, statements made by characters analyzing their own situations often illustrate the idea of illusion versus actuality. This theme of truth and reality opposing fallacy and fantasy is a prominent idea in Macbeth. Throughout the play, especially in the first act, duality and contradiction is commonly mentioned. Initially, this is seen as the witches speak in the opening scene. "Fair is foul," they say, "and foul is fair" (I, 1, 12). The Weird sisters also speak in this manner when they address Banquo. They tell him he will be "Lesser than Macbeth and greater" (I, 3, 68). Although this seems perplexing, one later finds that what they say is true; though Banquo does not become a king
Because Macbeth was too trusting in that which could not be trusted, he was bound to fall tragically. One, an armed head, cries, "Beware Macduff!/ Beware the Thane of Fife!" (IV, 1, 81-82). They make Macbeth believe he has control over his fate, and by doing so they have changed his fate. Lastly, characters' notice of the triviality of appearance further demonstrates the theme. The witches, whether real or illusion, had an enormous effect on the lives of the characters. Malcolm, who is cautious of cover-ups and lies, eloquently says to Macduff, "Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace/ Yet grace must still look so" (IV, 3, 29-30). In the fourth act, many things "double. This further proves that this eluding form of speech is wicked and deserves punishment. Through all their trials, the main characters agree that appearance is often a poor indication of reality. "False face must hide what the false heart doth know," says Macbeth at the close of Act 1 (I, 7, 95). This is seen from the point of view of both the liars and the deceived. Another confusing aspect of Macbeth is the reality of the impossible and supernatural. Certainly, the existence of this ghost, visible only to one man, is questionable. By saying two separate things together as truth, one is unsure about the validity of the statement. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth say that they should hide their ambitions from Duncan and the other guests.
Common topics in this essay:
Lady Macbeth,
Lesser Macbeth,
Macbeth IV,
Shakespeare's Macbeth,
Macbeth Throughout,
Fife IV,
Macbeth Laugh,
iv 1,
weird sisters,
lady macbeth,
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Acceptance Essays
