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

there be many themes in Macbeth, not surprising give the plays richness of theatrical role, language and events. These themes include easilyness and evil, deceptive appearances and reality and the supernatural. They are all linked to the conception of median(a) is foul, as are the characters. I will now try to examine in more detail the salient signifi stinkpotce of fair is foul in Shakespeares Macbeth.It is believed that the play was written with index pack 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 fagship, loyalty and most importantly his fascination with supernatural (he even wrote a book called Demonology, on the subject).The idea of the supernatural and witchery in sort outicular are very(prenominal) important during the play. The witches also known as the Weird Sisters, Act 1 Scene 3 Line 34, instan ce 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 deprave Gods natural order, and thus in 1604 its practice became punishable by death. However they were still uncertain on the power of witches. This uncertainty fag end be seen in the play. We never know whether the witches have any real power or whether they can only persuade and suggest things to others.The Gunpowder while 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 being 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 fact that they are evil is shown in their final couplet. It is, as mentioned in a higher place, the three witches who chorus the line fair is foul and foul is fair. It can be translated as effectual is bad and bad is good, a slightly difficult phrase to understand. An important thing to note is that Fair is foul is a paradox. That is a statement, which appears to play off itself solely can contain a truth. It is this line that sets the tone for the rest of the play the way things appear may not be the way they very areTheir line however can also be used to describe themselves and their predictions. When they show Macbeth his future it all sounds good, All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter. 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 tell lies but because they speak in puzzling riddles, its possible that Macbeth hears what he wants to hear, by believing only the positive aspects.In Shakespeares Macbeth, the protagonist is lured to murder the King, Duncan, by witchs predictio ns, 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 describe as brave Macbeth is the one later 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 noble 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 enough we find he has a fatal weaknessambition.He was easily influenced by, witches prophecies and his wifes persuasion, to follow the ambitions that he secretly coveted to chase, Thus thou must do if thou have it, in other words he must do it (kill King Duncan) if he wants the superlative. He allowed his ambitions to suppre ss 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 totally evil. He did after all have a conscience, which played 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, foulness and rejection of female values, mark her as a hardhearted villain more monster than woman Come to my woman breasts and take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers .Unlike Macbeth, it is easily noticed that she has an evil hunger for power from the start . chastice with the politesse of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden crown just a section of her words from the first time we meet her (Act 1 Scene 5).However Shakespeare uses dramatic irony, in that the audience know she is evil but many characters fail to see this. Many are fooled by her deceptive acts. Fair and noble stewardess, are the words Duncan used to describe Lady Macbeth, who turned out to be involved in his murder later that night.The audience get a taste of her hunger for power by her reaction to the letter from Mabeth, it is both powerful and dramatic. As soon as she has finished reading the letter (including flesh out of the witches premonitions) she decides to make sure Macbeth will become King. She knows her husband is ambitious but also considers his lack of ruthlessness- yet I do fear thy temper It is to upright 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 great delight, she hears that the King is coming that very night. She invites the spirits 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 toe top-full Of direst cruelty. Any thoughts of doubt 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 bloody thoughts, Come u spiritsyou murdering ministers. The language used gives the effect of dark-skinned magic and incantations, symbolising Lady Macbeth as a witch.As said above the line fair is foul gives the impression 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 automatic teller machine 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 taking into consideration Lady Macbeths words and plans from the earlier scene. She is a great deceiver, falsely exchanging pleasant conversation, very successfully.It is also Lady Macbeth who advises her husband to put on a false appearance, look like the free flower. But 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 floating 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 chair, has gone to haunt him and incriminate 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 near complete faith in them. I think he believed them, because deep inside thats what he wants, and the premonitions give him hope of achieving an impossible target.The t heme 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 disloyal to your King, it can also be seen as fair.This is very similar to what happens to Macbeth. His head 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 committed many unforgivable crimes, and caused disorder all over a settled country.I think that for a line so confusing at first it appears to be the roots of the play It is associated with nearly all the themes of the play, and all the characters especially Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.