Appearance Vs Reality Flashcards
The motif of the play
“Fair is foul, foul is fair”
This motif suggests that appearances are often deceptive - pointing towards the play’s inconsistency between appearance and reality. It suggests that in a world governed by liars and murderers, you can never be sure whether what you are looking at in life is a mirage, apparition, or a dagger
Macbeth thanking Duncan
“The service and the loyalty I owe” - Shakespeare uses irony here because Macbeth claims that it is his pleasure to serve the King. Yet, the reader knows that Macbeth is already pondering killing Duncan. So, his behaviour contradicts his beliefs, thus evidencing the theme of appearance vs reality
Lady Macbeth attacking the stereotypes of a man
“look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”
- symbolism of contrasting images in flowers and serpents. The latter representing treachery, contrasting the previous gentle and beautiful image. This contrasting symbolism is used to create s stark contrast between Macbeth’s facade and his true intentions, revealing the theme of human duality and deception.
Donalbain to Malcolm about how you can’t trust anyone after Duncan’s murder
“There’s daggers in men’s smiles” - this metaphor represents hidden threats and malicious intents, symbolising that people hide these intents behind the masquerade of their smiles. It further contrasts a lethal weapon that represents danger to an image of a man smile, symbolising happiness and trust. By contrasting these two elements, it is clear that no one can be trusted as you cannot see the true intents behind someone’s facade.
Macbeth seeking Banquo’s whereabouts to kill him
“Chief guest, ride you this afternoon” - here Shakespeare uses the values and beliefs of a typical Jacobean audience to convey Macbeth as a kind and thoughtful man who offers to give his friend a ride. Yet, behind this facade is Macbeth’s true intentions as he only says these words to reveal Banquo’s whereabouts so he can be assassinated. So, by hiding behind a facade that is so deeply entrenched in Jacobean society, the audience is positioned to be shocked as it is clearly easy to hide your true intentions behind the values and beliefs of the time.
After testing Macduff to see if he is a spy, Malcolm hints at Macbeth’s character by saying
“Angels are bright still though the brightest fell” - Shakespeare uses this allusion to liken Macbeth to Lucifer who was once the brightest angel until he fell and became the Devil. By comparing Macbeth to Lucifer, the audience is positioned to see that Macbeth’s true self is villainous, a stark contrast to the virtuous and noble man at the start of the play. Macduff also hints at the notion that although some men disguise themselves with the appearance of virtue, virtue can still look like itself - there are still virtuous people out there that are truly moral. Foul may be fair, but that doesnt mean fair is foul. There are still good people in the world
