Misleading Appearances in

MacbethPrepared by : Jill Erice Jimmer

Farhana Fadzee

Yunus Razali Winnie

Macbeth • The play revealed the changes of a

good nobleman into a powerful and greedy king.

• (Act 1, Scene 1,25) “Fair is foul, foul is fair.” That main phrase prefigured how appearances could deceive because it stated that good was bad and vice versa. It was shown that Macbeth was a good nobleman who would despise the thought of killing bad.

Lady Macbeth• Looks appeared deceiving first when Lady

Macbeth was told about King Duncan’s death by Macduff. (She was pretended very shocked and surprised) She said, ‘woe alas! / What, in our house? “(Act 2,scene 3,143). She asked the question as if she did not know what had happened; her appearance in the situation was misleading to all the other characters.

Lady Macbeth• Another instance of Lady Macbeth’s

occurred is when Macbeth started rambling and drew attention the people during the dinner. To distract the guests, Lady Macbeth’s feigned when fainting and gasping, “Help me hence, ho!” (Act 2,Scene 3,147). She took on the form of a mourning, frightened woman

Malcolm• Malcolm made himself appear to be a bad person,

even worse than Macbeth when Macduff questioned him. Macduff did not really care, he just wanted Macbeth out of power. As Macduff gave up, Malcolm showed his true colours and told him that he would help take back Scotland with the help of English soldiers. “Wither indeed, before thy here-approach,/ Old Siward, with ten thousand warlike men,/ Already at a point, was setting forth.” (Act 4,Scene 3,271) Malcolm appeared to be evil but in the end was the man that Macduff looking for.

The Witches• The three witches told six prophecies to both Macbeth

and Banquo. Three prophecies were towards Macbeth. “All, hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!/ All, hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!/ All, hail Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter.” (Act 1, Scene 3,43) Banquo was curious about his life and his prophecies were, “Lesser than Macbeth, yet greater./ Not so happy, yet much happier./ Thou shalt get kings, though though be none…” (Act 1, Scene 3,45) Macbeth was very pleased with the prophecies and is misled by these hell spawn creatures.

The Witches• Though the three witches appeared to be helping

Macbeth, they were actually just playing with his mind. Macbeth practically thought he was immortal but in the end was brought to a wicked demise. Macduff had killed Macbeth even though Macbeth thought the prophecies had told him he could not die at the hands of Macduff. The Weird Sisters made Macbeth believe that they would bring good fortunes to him but in reality they were plotting an evil scheme that changed the world around him.

• All these examples showed that appearance is usually an illusion and a fake of what something in reality. Appearance is like a shell surrounding a chick. On the outside, the shell may look like one thing, but deep inside is a beautiful or dead chick ready to emerge. In time, the truth will come out. In the end, judging by appearance will probably lead to disappointment, but that isn’t true in all cases.

Essay

• IntroductionNever judge a book by its cover, or never judge

people by his or her appearances are some of the phrases that are very common to us. Judging a book by its cover will lead to disappointment. In the play Macbeth, there are many victims to appearance. Duncan believed his nobles are loyal but in the reality, they were against him. Also, other characters had made themselves appear like a bad person to others, but they’re actually doing that for the good sake of others.

• First ParagraphIn the beginning of the play, Macbeth is well

respected hero who appears to be a great guy. However, Macbeth is clearly seen that he is a selfish and troubled man. In lines 81-82 on page 240, Macbeth tells how he must mislead the world and hide his dark side of it. “Away, and mock the time with fairest show. False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” On page 249, Macbeth does a good job of hiding his dark side before finding the dead king together with Macduff. “Is the king stirring, worthy Thane?” asks Macduff. “Not yet”, replies Macbeth. Although Macbeth has full knowledge of the king’s death, he plays it off well and seems to know nothing.