Misleading Appearance and Dissappointing Reality
Renoir once said that "Reality is always magic." I think this holds true for the main characters of
William Shakespear's "Macbeth" in that their persistent subterfuge draws people astray from their deceitful
reality. In the case of the appearances of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, things are not what they appear to
be. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are prime examples that things are not always as they seem, and upholding
such facades can be detrimental to their surroundings. In private, Lady Macbeth encourages and almost
demands that her husband commit terrible acts. In public, however, she shows a sweet, concerned, naive
face. Macbeth appears to be a noble servant to his country who is merely fulfilling duties, when in reality
he is taking extreme measures to increase his own power; betraying the trust of those around him as he
goes. Lady Macbeth and her husband suffer greatly as a result of the guilt and complications their perfidy
brings on.
Lady Macbeth's character is a perfect embodiment of the contrast between appearance and
reality. This is most apparent in her manipulation of her husband. She instructs him to, "Look like th'
innocent flower, but be the serpent under't." She encourages him to lie and kill to increase his
power, and is often cruel and heartless in her tactics of persuasion. However, Lady Macbeth seems to be
quite power hungry and ambitious herself as she would show no remorse when Macbeth went on to kill
Duncan. Similarly, Lady Macbeth is incredibly dishonest in her interaction with King Duncan before he is
killed. Lady Macbeth greeted King Duncan saying, "All our service in every point twice done, and then
done double, were poor and single business to contend against those honors deep and broad.....We rest
your hermits." Lady Macbeth plays the role of the s...