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Theme Of Deception In Macbeth

Decent Essays

Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Macbeth, a play by William Shakespeare, is a story of a man overcome by evil ambition. William Shakespeare’s purpose is to write the audience a play that is relatable. Macbeth teaches the reader that everything is not as it seems and that guilt due to unconfessed sin can be unhealthy, and Shakespeare is successful in his purpose as an author because he communicates that appearances can be deceiving and that guilt can potentially drive a person mad.
Macbeth takes place approximately during the eleventh century in Scotland, United Kingdom. The main character, Macbeth, is a respectable, well-liked thane and soldier under the incredibly loved King Duncan. After two successful battles, Macbeth and his companion Banquo are met by three witches who give prophecies to both men. The witches tell Macbeth that he is Thane of Cawdor and is soon to be king. After the “Thane of Cawdor” prediction is fulfilled, Macbeth begins to ponder becoming king by his own foul means verses waiting for fate to crown him king. Shakespeare portrays several themes throughout Macbeth’s kingship journey. …show more content…

Throughout the play it is shown that there is no art in determining a man’s thoughts simply by looking at the expression on his face. This theme is confirmed in Duncan’s statement, “There’s no art/To find the mind’s construction in the face:” King Duncan said this of the Thane of Cawdor who was executed for treason. The night Duncan went to Macbeth’s castle for a celebration, Macbeth and his wife were planning his murder. However this was not apparent because Macbeth “bore welcome in his eye” as instructed by Lady Macbeth, although he was “the serpent under’t”. In spite of committing murder, to everybody else Macbeth seemed severely distraught over Duncan’s death, when, truth be told, Macbeth was Duncan’s

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