appearances vs reality

• (1) the witches' equivocation

  (2) motif of facades

  (3) hallucinations
• (1) "So foul and fair a day I have not seen"


  Before he even meets them, Macbeth echoes the earlier words of the witches, showing that they have power over him from the start.  The paradoxical statement used by Shakespeare shows how you cannot trust anyone and introduces the theme of distrust and false appearances in the play.
• (1)" None of woman born shall harm Macbeth"


  • The witches use equivocation to manipulate Macbeth, leading to his downfall, as seen when Macduff, born via cesarean section, ultimately murders him.
  • This manipulation reflects the historical fear of equivocation at the time. While priests controversially employed it, sparking moral debates, the belief in witches using equivocation was widespread.
• (2) "Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it"


  Lady Macbeth asks Macbeth to put on a facade as she does as a woman

  urging macbeth to present a facade of innocence while concealing their true, often sinister intentions. It reflects the duplicity required for ambition and survival in a morally corrupt environment.
• "When then, alas, do I put up that womanly defence, to say I have done no harm?"


  -  Lady Macduff illustrates the predisposition of women to assume their innocence – but Lady Macduff is questioning this. Jacobean audience would have their expectations questioned.
• "The repetition in a woman's ear would murder as it fell."


  - Macduff says this despite the murder being planned by Lady Macbeth, he believes it would be awful for a lady to hear about it. mirrors the chivalarous attitude that women aren't capable of evil deeds.
• (3)" Is this a dagger which I see before me?"


  - This hallucination marks the start of his insanity, this first one begins his descent into madness.

  - The uncertainty targets the Jacobean dichotomous worldview, by creating liminality between truth and falsehood the contemporary audience would be disturbed.
• (3) never shake thy gory locks at me


  -  Macbeth’s next hallucination, after the murder of Duncan, is more graphic and – rather than questioning his sanity – he believes the ghost of Banquo is there, taunting him.
• "Will all the perfumes of Arabia not sweeten this little hand?"


  Mental illness in the Jacobean period was believed to be a sign of being possessed by demons and an indicator of evil, Lady Macbeth’s hallucination indicates her antagonism