The Theme Appearance Versus Reality Is A General Theme In Macbeth
The theme appearance versus reality is a general theme in Macbeth. Throughout the whole story it’s very difficult to tell whether a person has good or bad intentions; whether he or she is real or has a false appearance. And it's not only persons who can have a false front. It can also be predictions or psyche playing tricks on you.
Two great examples of characters with a false appearance are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. They seem innocent and completely loyal to the king, Duncan, during his visit, but really they are carrying murderous thoughts. Actually, Lady Macbeth is telling the audience this by saying to Macbeth: “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it.” That means that the audience is quite aware of their duplicity during the play.
Meanwhile King Duncan isn't, and in the end this naivety causes his death. His first mistake is making Macbeth Thane of Cawdor because of his believe in Macbeth's loyalty. Actually, he has made this mistake before: The former Thane of Cawdor betrayed him. From the following quote you can tell that king Duncan couldn't see pass his false appearance and therefore trusted him fully.
She resolves to put her natural femininity aside so that she can do the bloody deeds necessary to seize the crown
Lady Macbeth, outraged, calls him a coward and questions his manhood: “When you durst do it,” she says, “then you were a man” (1.7.49). He asks her what will happen if they fail; she promises that as long as they are bold, they will be successful.
In the soliloquy, she spurns her feminine characteristics, crying out “unsex me here” and wishing that the milk in her breasts would be exchanged for “gall” so that she could murder Duncan herself. These remarks manifest Lady Macbeth’s belief that manhood is defined by murder. her husband is hesitant to murder Duncan, she goads him by questioning his manhood and by implicitly comparing his willingness to carry through on his intention of killing Duncan with his ability to carry
Two great examples of characters with a false appearance are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. They seem innocent and completely loyal to the king, Duncan, during his visit, but really they are carrying murderous thoughts. Actually, Lady Macbeth is telling the audience this by saying to Macbeth: “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it.” That means that the audience is quite aware of their duplicity during the play.
Meanwhile King Duncan isn't, and in the end this naivety causes his death. His first mistake is making Macbeth Thane of Cawdor because of his believe in Macbeth's loyalty. Actually, he has made this mistake before: The former Thane of Cawdor betrayed him. From the following quote you can tell that king Duncan couldn't see pass his false appearance and therefore trusted him fully.
She resolves to put her natural femininity aside so that she can do the bloody deeds necessary to seize the crown
Lady Macbeth, outraged, calls him a coward and questions his manhood: “When you durst do it,” she says, “then you were a man” (1.7.49). He asks her what will happen if they fail; she promises that as long as they are bold, they will be successful.
In the soliloquy, she spurns her feminine characteristics, crying out “unsex me here” and wishing that the milk in her breasts would be exchanged for “gall” so that she could murder Duncan herself. These remarks manifest Lady Macbeth’s belief that manhood is defined by murder. her husband is hesitant to murder Duncan, she goads him by questioning his manhood and by implicitly comparing his willingness to carry through on his intention of killing Duncan with his ability to carry