Appearance vs reality

Appearance vs reality

1. Things are not what they seem. This is an imp. concept in the play. We cannot take things at face value as there might be a hidden truth behind the facade.

   • This concept is also seen in real life

2. The witches set the scene for confusion and illusion in the play. They succesfully manage to mislead evil thoughout Scotland by their use of language

   • "Fair is foul and foul is fair"
     • The opposition in language establishes that things will not be as they appear in the play
       • this is seen my the reversal of morality in the language use (what's good is bad)

3. Lmac knows that the plan of murder will only work with deception therefore she tells Mac to:

   • "look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under't"
     • she wants him to appear happy and innocenr but be ready to strike when the right time come
       • the guests will be clueless to what is happening because of his false appearance
   • KD AND B arrive at Macs castle where lmac greets them pretending to be the perfect hostess
     • Lmac seems to be very sure of what shes doing and is sure that this plan will work

4. Mac agrees to murdering Duncan however he knows that he will have to wear a mask to hide his thoughts

   • "False face must hide what the false heart doth know"
     • What MAC is abt to go through will require him to be a diferent person than who he truly is, therefore he is prepping for life after the murder by wearing a mask
   • When KDs body is discovered Mac and lmac cover up what they have done
     • when aproached mac is careful not to speak too much to avoid giving anything away
       • "whats the matter?"
         • short phrases
     • Lmac pretends to faint, further complimeting their apparent innocence. This draws attention away from Mac and the fact that he killed the guards

5. The witches meet again with Mac. They give him new predictions in the form of apparitions. This foreshadows their reality which is met at the end of the play

   • 1. Armed head "Beware Macduff"
     • 2. Bloody child- Macbeth will not be threatened by anyone who was born woman. However Macduff was born by caesarian therefore did not have a natural child birth.
       • 3. Child with a tree in his hand- Mac will never be defeated until a forest moves up to the castle wall. During the invasion Malcolm and his soldiers decide to walk holding branches in their hand so it is unclear to the enemy the amount they came in
         • The witches use equivocation to only give half truths. they make it appear that Mac will never be defeated without giving the actual reality.
           • This leads mac to think he is invincible and kill regardlessley.