Appearance vs reality

Question 1

Macbeth quotes for appearance vs reality

Answer 1

• “Stars hide your fires, Let no light see my black and deep desires”
• “I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep’”

Question 2

Analyse “Stars hide your fires, Let no light see my black and deep desires”

Answer 2

• The contrast between the ominous connotations associated with “black” and the bright imagery linked to “light” highlights Macbeth’s dichotomous character
• Despite projecting a virtuous facade of an upright Jacobean man, he harbours malevolent and tyrannical intentions. Macbeth wants to shroud his sinister motives in metaphorical darkness, as if his true intentions come to “light” this would obstruct him from acquiring his illegitimate title of King
• The rhyme between “desires” and “fires” in this couplet has a resemblance to the enchanting spellcasting technique employed by the Witches, who also utilise rhyming couplets to accentuate their deceptions
• This emphasises Macbeth’s descent into a shadowy and malevolent trajectory as he is asking for his duplicitous intentions to be revealed so he can fulfil his ambitious ego-centric desires

Question 3

Lady Macbeth & The Witches quote for appearance vs reality

Answer 3

• “Look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (Lady Macbeth) “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! (Witches)

Question 4

Analyse “Look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (Lady Macbeth) “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! (Witches)

Answer 4

• Lady Macbeth assumes the role of the fourth witch within the play, employing cunning schemes to manipulate Macbeth. Significantly, both the Witches and Lady Macbeth embody the central theme of appearance versus reality, skillfully employing deceptive practices to maneuver acquiring power over Macbeth
• Lady Macbeth incorporates a biblical allusion by employing the term “serpent,” drawing parallels to the Genesis narrative depicting the fall of mankind. This deliberate choice of diction serves to underscore her belief in the effectiveness of deception, akin to the serpent’s manipulation of Adam and Eve
• Lady Macbeth adeptly highlights the effectiveness of deception when cloaked in an “innocent” flower-like facade, emphasising the ease with which such deceit can be orchestrated, especially when temptation and pride are at play
• Similar to Lady Macbeth, the Witches exploit Macbeth’s hubris to help employ their deceptive influence. The short sentence, with commas either side of Macbeth’s name, signifies their targeted approach. Through prophecies tailored to stroke his ego and satisfy his ambitions, the Witches effectively obscure his judgement, making him susceptible to their manipulative schemes

Question 5

Lady Macbeth quotes for appearance vs reality

Answer 5

• “Dash’d the brains out”

Question 6

Analyse “Dash’d the brains out”

Answer 6

• The plosive on “dash’s” creates a brutal sound, mirroring her brutal rejection of motherly instincts. Her proclivity for violence takes precedence over motherhood, leading to her unapologetic willingness to extinguish human life in the relentless pursuit of unchecked violent ambition
• The deliberate contrast between the forceful verb “dash’d” and the delicate nature of “brains” serves as a poignant symbol reflecting Lady Macbeth’s character. Despite her seemingly fragile exterior, she harbours a strong desire to instigate violence and chaos
• Notably, her choice of targeting the vulnerable “brains” of infants signifies a recognition of both the paramount importance and extreme fragility of human existence. Yet this is uronic, as the very organ she seeks to disrupt is her unborn child - the seat of morality and reason - becomes the locus of her own downfall

Question 7

The Witches quotes for appearance vs reality

Answer 7

• “Fair is foul and foul is fair”

Question 8

Analyse “fair is foul and foul is fair”

Answer 8

• The Witches communicate through paradoxes, as seen in their use of “foul” and “fair”. This introduces a moral ambiguity, whilst heightening the potent sense of contradiction and disorientation that is established from the offset
• This also foreshadows the impending chaos in the play, suggesting that the Witches’ deceitful nature and captivating prophecies will ultimately leave Macbeth bewildered and disorientated
• They speak in trochaic tetrameter, which is distinct from the iambic pentameter that noble characters speak in throughout the play, this gives their speech on eerie songlike quality. This unnatural manner of speech compounds their duplicitousness as even their speech transcends the earthly realm. Consequently, this makes it easier for them to tap into the supernatural realm to successfully employ their oral deceptions
• Banquo’s later characterisation of them as “instruments of darkness” underscores their sinister muscality, implying that their conflicting words possess a hypnotic allure particularly for Macbeth

Question 9

Banquo quotes for appearance vs reality

Answer 9

• “I dream’d of the three weird sisters last night” (Banquo) “I think not of them” (Macbeth)