‘Macbeth’ is a play by William Shakespeare set in 10-11th centuries. Appearance and reality is key theme throughout the play to explain the character's actions and thoughts and the differences that occur between them. Shakespeare uses a number of techniques to show appearance and reality including metaphors, contrast and caesuras. These create a number of effects to show appearance and reality in different ways and views.
One way Shakespeare explores appearance and reality is through Macbeth's early thoughts with the witches prophecies. In an aside Macbeth says, “My thought, whose murder yet is fantastical” but then carries on to say to Banquo, “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir.” This shows that though Macbeth is thinking about killing Duncan, it is not what he says to Banquo. The reality of his …show more content…
In the opening scene of the play the witches say, ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” which sets up the theme of appearance and reality through the play. What they say is a paradox which makes the audience think about what they really mean. Also all the words are monosyllabic giving a punchy feel and makes it stick in the mind. What the witches are saying is that the world in which the play is set will be turned upside down and nobody will be able to tell who is good and who is bad. Later on in the play the witches again allow Shakespeare to explore appearance and reality. In the quote, “Speak. Demand. We’ll answer” the witches appear to be helping Macbeth and he believes this. They use simple, direct verbs to give this allusion but in reality they are just a catalyst for Macbeth’s downfall. They appear to Macbeth differently as he has become obsessed with them to what they actually intend to do. They are evil but Macbeth does not see this. The witches represent the evil of the world and what obsession does to people's thoughts and how deceiving people can
One way Shakespeare explores appearance and reality is through Macbeth's early thoughts with the witches prophecies. In an aside Macbeth says, “My thought, whose murder yet is fantastical” but then carries on to say to Banquo, “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir.” This shows that though Macbeth is thinking about killing Duncan, it is not what he says to Banquo. The reality of his …show more content…
In the opening scene of the play the witches say, ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” which sets up the theme of appearance and reality through the play. What they say is a paradox which makes the audience think about what they really mean. Also all the words are monosyllabic giving a punchy feel and makes it stick in the mind. What the witches are saying is that the world in which the play is set will be turned upside down and nobody will be able to tell who is good and who is bad. Later on in the play the witches again allow Shakespeare to explore appearance and reality. In the quote, “Speak. Demand. We’ll answer” the witches appear to be helping Macbeth and he believes this. They use simple, direct verbs to give this allusion but in reality they are just a catalyst for Macbeth’s downfall. They appear to Macbeth differently as he has become obsessed with them to what they actually intend to do. They are evil but Macbeth does not see this. The witches represent the evil of the world and what obsession does to people's thoughts and how deceiving people can