Examine the dramatic significance of the theme “fair is foul” in Macbeth Essay

at that place atomic number 18 many a(prenominal) divisions in Macbeth, not surprising given the dissembles richness of character, spoken communication and events. These constitutions include goodness and evil, deceptive come to the foreances and cosmos and the super native. They are exclusively linked to the idea of pleasure ground is foul, as are the characters. I willing now try to examine in more(prenominal) detail the striking signifi squirtce of bring together is foul in Shakespeares Macbeth.It is believed that the play was pen with exponent James in mind. Mabeth was written sometime between 1603 and 1606, years during which King James (6th of Scotland and 1st of England) was on the throne. Many of James interests were included in the play, for example kingship, loyalty and most importantly his fascination with supernatural (he even wrote a book pealed Demonology, on the subject).The idea of the supernatural and witchcraft in particular are precise(prenomin al) important during the play. The witches withal kn take in as the Weird Sisters, Act 1 Scene 3 Line 34, represent evil and temptation in the play. In Shakespeares day there was widespread belief in the existence of witchcraft and demonology. People feared that witches attempted to corrupt Gods natural order, and thus in 1604 its practice became punishable by death. merely they were still uncertain on the condition of witches. This uncertainty can be seen in the play. We n forever receipt whether the witches occupy any real power or whether they can only persuade and suggest things to opposites.The Gunpowder speckle seems to have been added to the play. It was an action taken to remove the king, very similar to Macbeths actions. Again it gives the idea of Gods natural order organism destroyed. They believed that the king ruled by Divine Right i.e. they were Gods chosen one. Therefore killing him, to obtain unrightful kingship would definitely shatter the natural order.The fa ct that they are evil is shown in their final couplet. It is, as mentioned above, the trine witches who chorus the contestation fair is foul and foul is fair. It can be translated as good is bad and bad is good, a slightly difficult phrase to understand. An important thing to note is that handsome is foul is a paradox. That is a statement, which waits to contradict itself scarcely can invert a truth. It is this line that sets the tone for the rest of the play the way things appear whitethorn not be the way they really areTheir line however can also be use to describe themselves and their predictions. When they secernate Macbeth his future tense it all sounds good, All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereinafter. However it is these predictions that lead to his fatal actions and drastic downfall destruction. So really, these future visions arent good at all but bad. The witches never enounce lies but because they speak in puzzling riddles, its mathematical that Macbeth he ars what he wants to hear, by believing only the positive aspects.In Shakespeares Macbeth, the protagonist is lured to eat up the King, Duncan, by witchs predictions, his wifes encouragement, and by his own ambition. He commits a trio of wicked murders in the course of the play. It is possible to forget that the character described as brave Macbeth is the one subsequently described as a tyrant. Macbeths character is also one that is linked to the idea of fair is foul and foul is fair.Prior to his encounter with the witches (Act 1, Scene 3) Macbeth is a hero, a loyal warrior in service of the legitimate, King of Scotland, Duncan. He is described as a statuesque valiant and fearless warrior and Bellonas bridegroom, husband of the goddess of the war, worthy to be God of War. It appears that he has many positive characteristics but soon full we find he has a fatal weaknessambition.He was advantageously influenced by, witches prophecies and his wifes persuasion, to follow the ambit ions that he secretly desired to chase, and so thou must do if thou have it, in other lyric he must do it (kill King Duncan) if he wants the crown. He allowed his ambitions to suppress his good qualities and the end of the play describes him as a tyrant, a dwarfish thief, and hellhound.Macbeth is obviously one of the clearest and simplest examples of the theme fair is foul. By this I mean he is a character who fits the idea, things that look good may turn out to be evil. However I dont think it is fair to call him completely evil. He did after all have a conscience, which vie a major part throughout the play. It was his conscience that held him back from drastic actions, but not enough to stop him from murders that in the end he carried out.Lady Macbeth is also a good example of the theme fair is foul. In the world of Shakespeare tragedies she has come to represent feminine treachery. Her ambition, nastiness and rejection of female values, mark her as a heartless villain more mon ster than woman Come to my woman breasts and take my take out for gall, you murdering ministers . foreign Macbeth, it is easily noticed that she has an evil hunger for power from the start. chastice with the valour of my language All that impedes thee from the golden crown well(p) a section of her words from the first time we meet her (Act 1 Scene 5).However Shakespeare uses dramatic irony, in that the auditory modality know she is evil but many characters relegate to see this. Many are fooled by her deceptive acts. Fair and dreadful hostess, are the words Duncan used to describe Lady Macbeth, who false out to be involved in his murder later that night.The audience get a taste of her hunger for power by her response to the letter from Mabeth, it is both powerful and dramatic. As soon as she has washed-up reading the letter (including details of the witches premonitions) she decides to make sure Macbeth will cash in ones chips King. She knows her husband is ambitious but al so considers his lack of ruthlessness- yet I do fear thy nature It is to full o th milk of human kindness. She claims that ruthlessness o is the illness that Macbeth doesnt have in him. She decides that to gain the throne Duncan must be killed.To her peachy delight, she hears that the King is coming that very night. She invites the invigorate of evil to enter her body- Come you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toenail top-full Of direst cruelty. Any thoughts of interrogative sentence that she has some good inside her are totally unquestionable, at this point. How can a woman want the very characteristics that make her a woman, i.e. love and care, to be taken away just so that she can complete a wicked murder?The language she uses from lines 32-47 (Act 1 Scene5), are very similar to those used in a spell or chant. She is calling spirits to take away and feelings she may have, and fill her with murderous thoughts, Come u spirits you murdering ministers. The language used gives the effect of naughty magic and incantations, symbolising Lady Macbeth as a witch.As said above the line fair is foul gives the core of deceptive appearances and reality. Lady Macbeth, displays this idea very well, when she is fooling her guests. When King Duncan, arrives at the castle, he comments on how nice the atmosphere is, the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself. It was planned by Shakespeare to have an ironic effect, that King Duncan should say that, when fetching into consideration Lady Macbeths words and plans from the previous scene. She is a great deceiver, falsely exchanging pleasant conversation, very successfully.It is also Lady Macbeth who advises her husband to define on a false appearance, look like the innocent flower. entirely be the serpent undert. This was one of Shakespeares many metaphors. The flower resembles goodness and purity while the snake is a dark and evil creature. This also links in with the idea of reality vs. appearances.We are constantly reminded that things arent what they seem in the play. Shakespeare warns us not to be fooled by appearances, there are many examples of this during the play. One of the main examples is the afloat(p) dagger. Is it real or is it just a deceptive illusion luring Macbeth to do the unthinkable? There are other deceptive illusions during the course of the play, a main one being Banquos ghost. Macbeth believes the ghost, which hovers over Banqos empty-bellied chair, has gone to haunt him and accuse him of its murder.The witches say that the forest will comes to him, Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him. How is this possible? In reality no part of nature in form of lands and forests ever moves Macbeth is also told none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. Macbeth doesnt know that Macduff wasnt born normally, and so believes he cannot be harmed. We must doubt how reliable these premonitions really are While Banquo doubted what the witches said and preceded to question them, Macbeth had climb complete faith in them. I think he believed them, because sibylline inside thats what he wants, and the premonitions give him hope of achieving an impossible target.The theme fair is foul is a paradox, although it appears to contradict itself it does contains a truth. This can be seen in the first act when the Thane of Cawdor is sentenced to death. Looking at the execution it would appear to be a foul act. However when considering the reason of execution, being un-American to your King, it can also be seen as fair.This is very similar to what happens to Macbeth. His send was carried around the crowds, proving he had been killed. Yes, a very foul act but not completely unfair. After all this was a man who had connected many unforgivable crimes, and caused disorder all over a colonized country.I think that for a line so confusing at first it appears to be the roots of the play It is associated with nea rly all the themes of the play, and all the characters especially Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.