ENGLIT MACBETH appearance/reality quotes Flashcards
How does the appearance of the Macbeths’ castle ironic in I.6?
“this castle hath a pleasant seat; the air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself”
- ironic because we know the Macbeths are planning to kill Duncan
- plays beauty in the castle and compliments LM, builds in the shock to the audience when Duncan is actually murdered
How does Duncan misinterpret Macbeth’s rushing to prepare the castle?
“and his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him to his home before us”
- Duncan thinks Macbeth was rushing to prepare the castle in time for Duncan
- in reality, he was planning the murder of Duncan
What have the witches done to Macbeth in IV.4?
- they haven’t outright lied to him, but they have deliberately misled him
- another example of their deception
How is Malcolm shown to be more wary of false appearances than Duncan in II.3?
“to show an unfelt sorrow is an office which the false man does easy”
he’s wary of people who seem fake like Macbeth who had just made a speech before this
How is Banquo more perceptive than Macbeth in I.2?
- Banquo’s aware that the witches could be “fantastical” and is perceptive enough to realise that they are “instruments of darkness”
- he’s more cautious about seeing what he believes than Macbeth is
What is a key quote for appearance and reality from I.1?
“fair is foul, foul is fair”
- shows that nothing is what it seems
- said in the first scene of the play which shows that appearance and reality will be a central theme for the whole play
What does LM’s quote in I.5 link to?
“look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”
serpent links LM to Satan who tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
How does Macbeth betray his feelings?
- knows that he needs a “false face” (I.7) to hide his murderous acts
- however, his face is “the very painting” (III.4) of his fear when he sees Banquo’s ghost, his face as betrayed his feelings
How is deception shown throughout the play?
people can be deceptive, but everyone’s true nature comes out in the end
How do the witches’ language trick Macbeth?
- use language to trick Macbeth and convince him of a false reality
- they till him “none of woman born” will harm him which gives him the false confidence to fight to protect his reign
How do other characters speak in paradoxes?
- Macbeth says “nothing is but what is not” I.3
- paradoxes create uncertainty, nobody can tell what’s real
How do characters trust too much in appearance?
- in a world full of deception and lies, characters suffer when they trust in appearances too much
- Duncan trusts Macbeth and dies for it, also trusted the previous Thane of Cawdor too much as well
- Macbeth knows that reality and appearance don’t match up, but he completely trusts in the witches which leads to his downfall
Which character is shown to be more aware of appearance and reality in II.3?
“to show an unfelt sorrow is an office which the false man does easy”
- immediately sceptical that Duncan was murdered by one of his servants and suspects one of the thanes
- his awareness of what “false” men can do causes him to flee and probably saves his life
What is the significance of apparitions and visions?
they seem real to the characters that see them, but it’s a sign that the characters can’t tell the difference between appearance and reality
