Deception vs reality

• MACBETH: "Stars hide your fires, Let no light see my black and deep desires" (Act 4).


  The contrast between the ominous connotations associated with "black" and the bright imagery linked to "light" highlights Macbeth's dichotomous

  (divided into two) character. Despite projecting a virtuous facade (moral mask) of an upright Jacobean man, he harbours malevolent and tyrannical(cruel/oppressive) intentions. Macbeth wants to shroud his sinister motives in metaphorical darkness, as if his true intentions come to "light" this would obstruct him from acquiring his illegitimate title of King.
• MACBETH: "Stars hide your fires, Let no light see my black and deep desires" (Act 4).


  Rhyming couplet: The rhyme between "desires" and "fires" in this couplet has a resemblance to the enchanting spellcasting technique employed by the Witches, who also utilise rhyming couplets to accentuate their deceptions. This emphasises Macbeth's descent into a shadowy and malevolent trajectory as he is asking for his duplicitous intentions to be revealed so he can fulfil his ambitious ego-centric desires
• "Look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under't". (Lady M Act 1)

  "All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!" (Witches Act 1)


  Both personify key theme of appearance vs realit: Lady Macbeth assumes the role of the fourth witch within the play, employing cunning schemes to manipulate Macbeth. Significantly, both the Witches and Lady Macbeth embody the central theme

  of appearance versus reality, skillfully employing deceptive practices to manoeuvre

  acquiring power over Macbeth.
• LADY MACBETH "Look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under't". (Lady M Act 1)_

  "All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!" (Witches Act 1)


  Lady Macbeth uses biblical allusion by ”serpent." drawing parallels to the Genesis narrative depicting the fall of mankind. deliberate choice of diction serves to underscore her belief in the effectiveness of deception- serpent's manipulation of Adam and Eve. LM- effectiveness of deception when cloaked in an 'innocent" flower-like façade, emphasising the ease with which such deceit is orchestrated, when temptation +pride are at play.
• LADY MACBETH "Look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under't". (Lady M Act 1)_"All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!" (Witches Act 1)


  Short sentence: Similar to Lady Macbeth, the Witches exploit Macbeth's hubris (excessive pride) to help employ their deceptive influence. The short sentence, with commas either side of Macbeth's name, signifies their targeted approach. Through prophecies tailored to stroke his ego and satisfy his ambitions, the Witches effectively obscure his judgement, making him susceptible to their manipulative schemes.
• THE WITCHES: "Fair is foul and foul is fair" (Act 1)


  The Witches communicate through paradoxes, as seen in their useof "foul' and "fair." This introduces a moral ambiguity (not clear), whilst heighteningthe potent sense of contradiction and disorientation that is established from the offset. This also foreshadows the impending chaos in the play, suggesting that the Witches'deceitful nature and captivating prophecies will ultimately leave Macbeth bewildered and disorientated.
• THE WITCHES: "Fair is foul and foul is fair" (Act 1)

  They speak in trochaic tetrameter, which is distinct from the iambic pentameter that noble characters speak in throughout the play, this gives their speech an eerie songlike quality. Unnatural manner of speech compounds their duplicitousness as even their speech transcends the earthly realm -makes it easier for them to tap into the supernatural realm to successfully employ their oral deception. B later says instruments of darkness’ — sinister musicality hypnotic allure.
• MACDUFF: "most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope the Lord's anointed temple" (Act 2).


  religious semantic field as words like "sacrilegious' and "anointed" images of sacredness and holiness. Macduff's sincere loyalty to the King and order to Scotland. deep distress arises from the tragic regicide-divine right of kings, thus betraying his sacred status. hyperbole- reflecting how the king's murder feels like a personal affront to God himself. "broke" shatters peaceful image of a divinely ordained ruler + foreshadows the fractured and broken state of Scotland under Macbeth's reign.
• MACDUFF: "I am not treacherous" (Act 4)

  The emphatic simple sentence in Macduff's declaration strips away ambiguity. He doesn't cloak himself in decorative language or feigned virtue. This directness strengthens the sincerity of his claim, leaving no room for doubt about his true intentions. Macduff's diction of "treacherous" serves as a clear distinction between him and the treacherous stain that now defines Macbeth. This single word isn't merely a denial; it's a weaponised antithesis, a declaration of the moral principles that separates him from the murderer Macbeth.