Preview

Fair Is Foul Is Fair In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
917 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Fair Is Foul Is Fair In Macbeth By William Shakespeare
FAIR IS FOUL, FOUL IS FAIR

In the tragedy, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the paradoxical theme of "Fair is foul, foul is fair" functions throughout the play. The line is a prophecy which means one thing seems like another. It implies especially to the characters that they are not as they seem to be. The Three Witches are the ones who introduce the paradox that runs throughout the play. As this paper develops it will cover more on the different types of deceptions and how it plays an important role in Act 1. The different types of deceptions that will be discussed in this essay are deception of atmosphere, deception of Macbeth and the deception of witches.
In Macbeth, one of the things that was deceptive was the atmosphere. In Act 1, the atmosphere created by the author was very horrifying. The play sets the scene with a mysterious gathering of the three
…show more content…
The witches appeared suddenly in the mid-conversation, which was dramatic and created unclear ideas about the dubious topics of conversation. This in turn created an air of tension, suspicion and an ominous atmosphere. The presence of thunder and lightning was a symbol of evil and created a more hostile atmosphere. This suggested that the rest of the play would be full of deceit, revenge, anger and pain, implying the play would be a tragedy. Later on the witches planned to meet Macbeth in the play on the heath. Antithesis was used in the ultimate stanza, where the witches chant a warning: Fair is foul, and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air? This implied that appearances were deceptive, and it created a sense of mystery and encouraged thought as to what significance this may hold for later in

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the witches scene Shakespeare introduces the theme of nothing is as it seems. He uses antithesis in the witch's line, such as 'When the battle's lost and won', 'lost' and 'won' have conflicting meanings the same as 'lesser' and 'greater' in the line 'lesser than Macbeth but greater'. The most famous contradicting line the witches speak is 'Fair is foul and foul is fair'. The antithesis shows how everything…

    • 973 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The play Macbeth, was written around 1606 by the famous poet William Shakespeare. In the plot, Macbeth is told prophecies by three witches and he does everything in his power to make sure he becomes the king, as they proclaimed, including murder. In Macbeth, one theme presented is “fair is foul, and foul is fair,” meaning that things appearing to be good are sometimes bad, and things that at first seem bad can actually be good. There are many examples in the play to support this with regard to the supernatural, nature, and the play’s characters.…

    • 793 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair," is stated in line 10 by the witches in the opening of the play. The significance of this paradox is that it sets us up for the doubleness of the play. It means what is fair to the witches is foul to man.…

    • 3134 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Firstly, acts of deception, which created corruption, violence and a disturbance in good and evil, are illustrated through the life, which Macbeth led. The witches, through their prophecies, deceived Macbeth. These prophecies lead Macbeth to corruption, and through…

    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare many characters reveal their fatal flaw which may lead to their downfall. Things are not always as they seem. Many characters use deception to achieve their goals. Only later to receive the consequences of their actions. Examples include how deception has resulted in the death of Duncan and Macbeth and the suffering of many other characters in the play.…

    • 476 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Macbeth, William Shakespeare shows a good side, and a bad side of a person. At the beginning of the play, three witches mentioned “ Fair is Foul” and “Foul is Fair” ( 1.1.13). Macbeth felt that his cousin Duncan are king was unfair to him, however, Duncan felt it was acceptable. In order, to right what Macbeth felt was foul he killed Duncan to make it Fair in his eyes. Their apparition are simply true and they have Macbeth thinking that anyone will hurt him. Macbeth had a taste of power, and he is willing to do anything to keep it.…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In order to introduce the topic, we need to understand that the origin of Macbeth 's evildoing can have many possibilities at the moment of interpreting this character. However, I am going to focus mainly on the role of ignorance as the element which triggers his evil, inner side. In addition, I will analyse the external features which influenced this behaviour in Macbeth 's mind and I will show how his conduct was not something at random but Macbeth had a sense of ambition which was guided by his wrongdoing.…

    • 1344 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare's Macbeth, considered as one as of his most brilliant plays, is a definite pleasure to read, particularly for fans of the "medieval-setting" and Old English literature. His style is unique and creative, which, all in all, makes for a very appealing storyline. Regardless of such optimistic facets, Shakespeare's signature mark within most of his plays is his combination of various assorted themes merged together within one captivating scenario. In this case, Macbeth is an ideal paradigm representing this talent. Unlike most his past plays, this particular storyline consists especially of gloomy and sinister themes: infidelity, treachery, lust for power, and ironical situations used to emphasize scenes of tragedy form most of Macbeth's foundation.…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Not only to develop Macbeth’s character, but to develop multiple themes throughout the play. One of the main thing the Witches do in the play is to create the theme of evil and supernatural. They do this from the very first scene when come and talking about about meeting Macbeth and saying their famous chant, “Fair is foul,foul is fair,/Hover through the fog and filthy air.” (1.1 13-14) When they say these lines and mention meeting with Macbeth; they immediately create the theme of evil and supernatural and make the audience wonder what they are planning to do to Macbeth. The Witches also help to create the theme of ambition They do this by giving Macbeth profecias and once one comes true, Macbeth says, “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical.” (1.3 38) When Macbeth says this line; it can be seen that Macbeth is thinking ambitious thoughts of killing the king to have the second part come true. Later in the play Macbeth returns to the Witches for more prophecies; they gave him deceptive prophecies that gave him false hope. These prophecies made Macbeth think he was invulnerable which made him over confident. When he found out the prophecies tricked him he says, “ Accused be the tongue that tells me so,/ For it hath cow’d my better part of man.” (5.8 17-18)He says this because he finally realises that he was deceived by the Witches. Throughout the play, the witches help the theme of evil and supernatural,…

    • 870 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    "Foul is fair and fair is foul. " This is a quote from the witches in the beginning on Macbeth. This line sets a tone for the entire play of Macbeth. " Foul is fair and fair is foul" means that anything that is bad is good and what is good is bad. Everything is not what it seems.…

    • 308 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Macbeth,” by William Shakespeare is a caper about a man’s ambition that drives him crazy to the extent of murdering, and the man is Macbeth. Throughout the play the audience is introduced to many incidents and themes; some were brutal and some were not. This enactment of Act 3 scene 4 will be revealing the brutal change of Macbeth’s ambition. Ambition appears throughout the play and manipulates the parts in the same way ambition manipulates reality. Mankind’s biggest weakness is ambition, but ambition is also a strong point. William Shakespeare uses imagery, theme, phrasing, and symbolism in this transit, which establishes the characters look more evil than guilty.…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Macbeth

    • 1213 Words
    • 5 Pages

    One of the main themes rampant in Macbeth is that of deception. There is a disconnect between appearance and reality. Hypocrisy is everywhere and what is good for one person may be bad for others in the play.…

    • 1213 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dramatic irony is employed from the beginning of the play. The repetition of the paradox “fair is foul and foul is fair” (Act 1 Sc 1) by the Witches introduces the theme of the disruption of the natural order. Macbeth echoes similar words just before his first encounter with them, “so foul and fair a day I have not seen” (Act 1 Sc lll). This draws to the audience's attention the relationship that will form between Macbeth and the Weird Sisters. Dramatic irony is employed here, since Macbeth is unaware at this stage of the importance of his words. The audience though are able to see the connection, which creates dramatic suspense. His words highlight the contribution of the Witches to the events and outcomes of the play. Foreshadowing is one of the first dramatic techniques to be used in the play. In his meeting with the witches in Act 1 Sc lll, Macbeth learns of the prophecy. It plants the idea of treason in his mind. It is Macbeth's ambition that compels him to commit regicide. Without the deliverance of the prophecy by the Witches, Macbeth would not have considered becoming king. Macbeth at this stage of the action considers the witches insignificant, lowly and evil. He is initially fearful of them and approaches them with…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Witches introduce the theme with the infamous phrase “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” in the first scene. It’s functional for the Witches to say this in the beginning of the book, as they are the start of all the perplexity. They become the core of confusion when they awaken Macbeth’s ambition and transform his perspective of good and evil, making bad things look good and good things look bad. Ironically in connection with this, Banquo warns Macbeth, “Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence”. The Witches continue to speak in contradicting language, such as “lesser than Macbeth, and greater” and “Not so happy, yet much happier” that adds to the sense of moral confusion, by implying that nothing is quite what it seems. Banquo’s warning is…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, is an emotional rollercoaster full of terror, suspense, and paranoia. Filled with the deathly consequences of unethical and dishonorable actions and the influence of words. Act 1, Scene 7 illustrates a brilliant example where the fundamental ideas of Lady Macbeth are seen in action. In this scene we are witness to the power of persuasion and corruption over moral principal.…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays