Foul and Fair

They look merely at what is good or fair for them. of Lady Macbeth is ironic because Lady Macbeth had plotted to kill King Duncan. The use of “fair” in this context relates to the chant of the Weird sisters “Fair is foul and foul is fair”, what seemed to be fair was truly foul. The play demonstrates that desire can be so strong that people become overwhelmed with their own desires and often are oblivious to what may actually be “foul” or bad. Lady Macbeth’s fair appearance was the exact opposite of her intentions and personality.

Shakespeare is also saying in the play Macbeth that desire is the root of all greed and foulness, he demonstrates the power of greed and desire which is greatly inspired by the witches chant to Macbeth “fair is foul and foul is fair”, this chant drives Macbeth and his wife to look past the consequences greed and push towards what they believe is “fair” for them.

The two words which are generally compared to one another in the same phrase “fair is foul and foul is fair” show the disillusionment of the characters perception of good and bad.

Where foul is used by itself in the play it represents wickedness and treachery.