Key Quotes on Corruption of Nature Flashcards
“Fair is foul and foul is fair” Three Witches, Act I, Scene I
“So foul and fair a day I have not seen” Macbeth, Act I, Scene III
The witches are warning the audience that what may be seen as good might well be bad, and vice versa
It comes from the very first scene of the play
Macbeth is commenting on the very strange weather that comes after his victory in battle
His lines come just before his first encounter with the witches
Analysis
The witches are presenting the audience with a paradox: a contradictory statement that suggests that the play will involve the themes of deception and appearance versus reality
It is also a suggestion from Shakespeare of the disruption and chaos to come, of a kingdom turned upside down
The paradox suggests that the words of the witches might be in the form of riddles: confusing, or misleading, just as their prophecies are to Macbeth
Macbeth, without having met the witches, echoes their language:
- This suggests he is already being led by them, or under their spell
- This suggests to the audience that perhaps his “fair” character will be corrupted and become most “foul”
“Macbeth does murder sleep!” Macbeth, Act II, Scene II
Macbeth is quoting a voice he can hear that tells him that he has murdered sleep
It comes immediately after the murder of King Duncan when Macbeth returns to Lady Macbeth
Analysis
Macbeth returns from murdering Duncan in a panicked state and is hallucinating
He hears a voice telling him he will no longer be able to sleep
“Sleep” symbolises peace or calm, so this is a suggestion that Macbeth will no longer be at peace because he committed regicide
Shakespeare could be suggesting that in the act of murdering a king, he has murdered his own chance at peace – and perhaps eternal peace: Heaven
The voice he can hear might be interpreted as his own conscience
