Appearances and Reality

• How do the Macbeths' outward appearances affect their actions?

  They appear trustworthy to commit murder
• What literary device does Shakespeare use to manipulate reality in Macbeth?

  The supernatural elements like Witches
• What do the Witches symbolize in Macbeth?

  Chaos and confusion
• What paradox is created at the beginning of Macbeth?

  Contradictory statements reflect appearance vs. reality
• How does Banquo warn Macbeth about the Witches?

  They can deceive with small truths
• What does Lady Macbeth's ambition lead her to do?

  Deceive others to gain power
• How does Shakespeare portray the unreliability of appearances?

  Appearances can be manipulated and deceptive
• How does Lady Macbeth's mental state change throughout the play?

  She loses control and is ultimately destroyed
• What does Macbeth's first line reveal about his character?

  His fate is tied to confusion and contradiction
• How does Macbeth view appearances?

  As something to be managed for intentions
• What does Shakespeare suggest about society's view of appearances?

  People fear intimacy and judgment
• How does Macbeth's exploitation of appearances affect him?

  He becomes unable to cope with reality
• How does the supernatural influence the characters in Macbeth?

  It creates chaos and confusion in their actions
• How do societal expectations affect Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

  They drive their ambition and deception
• What role does irony play in character descriptions?

  It highlights the contrast between appearance and reality
• What are the consequences of manipulating appearances in Macbeth?

  It leads to guilt and loss of control
• How do guilt and ambition psychologically affect Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

  They lead to paranoia and mental instability
• What are the two powerful forces humanity is subjected to according to the text?

  Time and truth
• What does Shakespeare suggest about people's appearances in society?

  They use appearances to protect from judgment
• How does Macbeth's exploitation of appearances affect him?

  He struggles to discern his reality
• What do the morbid hallucinations suggest about Macbeth's true nature?

  It cannot be changed despite appearances
• What is the biggest conflict related to appearance vs. reality in Macbeth?

  It exists within Macbeth's own mind
• How does Duncan's character relate to the theme of appearance vs. reality?

  He is vulnerable due to his gullibility
• What does Shakespeare suggest about true evil?

  It arrives with the face of goodness
• What does the symbolism of darkness represent after Duncan's murder?

  The chaos and distress in the world
• How does Macbeth's wish relate to his control over reality?

  It suggests he can manipulate his environment
• What should students note about changes in atmosphere in the play?

  Small changes can influence the overall mood
• How is Macbeth introduced in the play?

  Through the words of the Witches
• What do the Witches' presence foreshadow?

  The use of trickery and witchcraft
• What is the relationship between Macbeth and the Witches?

  • The Witches deceive Macbeth
  • Macbeth betrays his kinsmen and friends
  • Their roles complement each other
• What motivates Macbeth's deception?

  His lust to be king
• How does the hierarchy of power function in the play?

  Citizens obey the king, who obeys the Witches
• How does Shakespeare structure the breakdown of order in Scotland?

  • Appearance vs. reality linked to order vs. disorder
  • Initial chaos shown through thunder and lightning
  • Order maintained by Duncan before Macbeth's reign
  • Chaos increases after Macbeth becomes king
• What do ghosts and hallucinations symbolize in the play?

  The divide between appearance and reality
• What does the switch from blank verse to prose indicate?

  Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's mental instability
• What is the final message of the play regarding appearances?

  • Anyone can wear a mask
  • Innocent appearances can hide true evil
  • This goes against natural order and God
  • Results in death and suffering
• How do the Macbeths' moods change by the end of the play?

  They swing violently and unpredictably
• What happens to the Macbeths' sense of self?

  It is destroyed by their deceit