Deceptive Appearances in Macbeth

Macbeth is a play that is all about deception. Right from the beginning when the three witches meet to talk, the mood being

In the play Macbeth you have deception left and right, especially when things start to get to Macbeth’s head and he wants everything he was told he will be sometime in his future. In this play it’s hard to know who you can and cannot trust due to how many lies there are and how often people manipulate others. How can you trust someone that was completely sane at the beginning of the play that turns into a psycho just because he wanted to become king and make the prophecies true. Or even someone that was ranked second in the land to become a traitor and then get punished by death. The theme of deception in Macbeth is pretty much the whole story but most of it all goes down in the first two acts of the play, which really explains everything and who you can or cannot trust, along with knowing who won’t turn around and stab them in the back and become a traitor.

Throughout Macbeth things are not always as they seem. Deception is always present with Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and the three witches.

Sariah Durrant R/W Essay 12 Deceptive Deeds (Deception in Macbeth) Deception is all around us, permeating our everyday lives. From harmless white lies two more serious ones deception is a part of everything. In Macbeth, there are several different deceptions that go on. One of which is when the three witches tried to convince Macbeth that they had his best interest in mind.

Deceit is a method often used to control others, to gain power over people in an unlawful manner. In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, deceit is commonly used by characters for their own gains, whether they be good or bad. Characters such as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are keen on keeping their position in power through murderous and deceitful ways, such as hiding the fact that they murdered King Duncan, while other characters such as Malcolm are using any ways possible to get rid of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Many characters prove to be able to expertly conceal their true identities by creating false personas, prime examples being Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Malcolm. With Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hiding their power-hungry nature, and Malcolm lying about his true identity, they prove that deceit can truly influence others.

    In acts one and two of Macbeth, there are some things said that make you wonder how much people in our lives actually act innocent, but then stab us in the back without anyone even realizing it. It might make some wonder what people are actually thinking or wanting in certain cases. It’s obvious in the beginning two scenes of Macbeth that after receiving such a high title of “Thane of Cawdor,” it made Macbeth crave power even more. Although he did always get along with King Duncan and really like him, it didn’t stop him from wondering what it would be like to be the king. Just shortly after receiving this title in the play, he began having thoughts about murdering the king so that he would have a chance. In acts one and two of Macbeth, there were many things that were said that showed deception.

Good Afternoon fellow students of Shakespeare’s work, Deception and the idea that looks can be deceiving is a key theme throughout the play of Macbeth. Shakespeare developed and showed this key theme throughout using various characters and language. Shakespeare develops and shows this key theme early on within the play. Shakespeare’s use of the witches, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and their language he develops the idea that looks can be deceiving throughout the whole play of ‘Macbeth’.

In the opening scene, they also chant, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair./Hover through the fog and filthy air” (Act I Scene I, lines 10-11). Obviously, then, Macbeth should not trust the witches, and they formerly suggest that appearances can be deceiving. Banquo, too, warns Macbeth to be cautious: “And oftentimes, to win us to our harm./The instruments of darkness tell us truths./ Win us with honest trifles, to betray ‘s/ In deepest consequence” (Act I Scene III, lines 123-126).

“Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower/ But be the serpent under’t” (I, v, 65-66). In Macbeth, Macbeth is told to deceive everyone because Lady Macbeth says so and he wants to get away with killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth tells him to look innocent but be sneaky attitude and appearance is everything. Macbeth is a loyal soldier and nobleman that fights for his home of Scotland but, when he is acquainted with three witches a prophecy will change his thoughts in two persuasive ways. Macbeth can be viewed as two very different people, a loyal noble and a paranoid killer, as the play proceeds. Throughout the play, the theme that outward appearances are not the true character of a person is clear because Macbeth battles the evident desires of loyalty and ambition representing

Considering Macbeth's character, he deceives people by appearing innocent. When Macbeth hears about the prophecy of becoming king, he starts to plot what he thinks he has to do in order to become kind, but he does not want people knowing that he is planning to kill the king. Regarding this, he wants to seem like he is not wanting

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most mystifying plays and is a study of human nature. The theme of appearance versus reality is apparent in Macbeth. It’s filled with numerous, notable, and significant scenes, including when King Duncan visits the Macbeth’s home, Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene, and Macbeth’s dagger soliloquy. They provide raw, psychological insight into the character of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, showcasing the differing characteristics between the two characters. A quote that has developed synonym with Macbeth is, “Fair is foul and foul is fair” (1.1.11) which introduces deceptiveness, debut, and one of the most important themes of this tragedy, appearance versus reality. Shakespeare uses numerous characters and situations to emphasize the confusion between appearance and reality, the real and the surreal, the legitimate and the imposturous. Emphasized in these scenes and throughout the play, Shakespeare successfully portrays the misalignment between appearance and reality.

Lady Macbeth also tricks by the appearance of herself. In the beginning she thinks that she should persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan. When Lady Macbeth knows about the prophecies from the witches, She says:

In real life, we should not judge people solely on their appearances. There are many people who appear to be trustworthy but in reality, are not. Appearance versus reality is an important theme in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The theme focuses on characters who are deceived by what appears to be real, and on the tragic consequences that follow this error in judgment. These characters include, Duncan, who trusts Macbeth too much; Lady Macbeth, who tricks by the witches and herself; Macbeth trickes by other people in the play.

In Shakespeare’s works, there are wide ranges of themes and motifs used to convey his messages. I found that appearance versus reality is a major recurring theme in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. This theme is illustrated through the course of actions following the witches’ prophecies in the characters Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Banquo. As “fair is foul, and foul is fair” (1, 1, 11), we understand that things are not always what they seem. These prophecies seem clear cut and straight to the point, but in reality, they have hidden meanings and foreshadow unexpected turns of events. Through the three mentioned characters, it can be seen that the differences between appearance and reality have a great part in the overall impact of the play. They must hide their true thoughts in

Eventually she kills herself. The witches’ appearance led Lady Macbeth to her death. Lady Macbeth is also tricked by the appearance of herself. In the beginning she thinks that she should persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan. When Lady Macbeth finds out about the prophecies from the witches, she says: