ipl-logo

Equivocation In Macbeth

1011 Words5 Pages

Actions speak louder than words

In the tragic play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare uses the idea of equivocation to illustrate how in relationships, one must be cautious about one’s true intentions. It is critical that one must pay attention to someones’ actions rather than their words, as things are not always what they appear to be. The characters in this play often barricade themselves behind a facade of deception. The play examines how appearances can be deceiving and how people can manipulate false images.
The main character of Macbeth is a prime example of someone whose appearance does not reflect his true self. In the beginning, he is viewed as a noble and honorable man who loves his king and country. However, he manages …show more content…

On the surface, she appears to be a strong and ruthless woman who is willing to do whatever it takes to help her husband achieve his goals. However, beneath this facade lies a troubled and guilt-ridden individual who cannot escape the consequences of her actions. One example of this can be seen when Lady Macbeth tells her husband to “look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t” (1.6.76-77). This quote illustrates how Lady Macbeth is instructing Macbeth to appear harmless and innocent on the outside while secretly plotting their murderous scheme. Furthermore, this quote also reveals Lady Macbeth’s true nature as she is encouraging deceit and manipulation. Her actions become repetitive as she begins sleepwalking and confesses her guilt over Duncan’s murder. She says, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say! … What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?” (5.1.25-28). This quote demonstrates how Lady Macbeth’s guilt has consumed her and she can no longer maintain her previous facade. The line “what need we fear who knows it” suggests that they were not afraid of being caught but rather haunted by their own conscience. Lady Macbeth’s appearance as a strong and ruthless woman masks her inner turmoil and guilt over their actions. Shakespeare uses these quotes to illustrate how easy it is for individuals to deceive others with their outward appearances while struggling internally with their true

Show More
Related
1237 Words | 5 Pages

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is revealed as an influential woman of great strength and determination, which can be seen in act three of scene two in which Lady Macbeth’s influential words “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it,” which guides Macbeth to also have the belief that to get the power he so desired, then he had to kill King Duncan. The extent of which Lady Macbeth’s influence had an impact on Macbeth’s conscience and his decisions eventually led to not only Macbeth himself, but also Lady Macbeth. Her downfall mimicked Macbeth’s in such a way that they were both craving power. In contrasting the Great Gatsby and Macbeth, readers find the themes of love and the aspect of the influence of women to make a considerable impact in both

Read More
829 Words | 4 Pages

Lady Macbeth exhibits stronger traits of an evil character, objectively making her eviler than Macbeth himself, as she is presented to be manipulative and brutal. Her manipulative tendencies in Act 1 Scene 7 truly acknowledge how corrupt she is in contrast to Macbeth. After receiving the news regarding Macbeth’s new title of Thane of Cawdor and the meeting with the witches, Lady Macbeth recognizes this as an opportunity for power. Due to her status as a woman in a Jacobean society, Lady Macbeth is socially constrained from pursuing any ambitions. With the information that is shared with her, Lady Macbeth’s persistent ambition leads her into manipulating Macbeth to murder King Duncan, overriding Macbeth’s morality.

Read More
459 Words | 2 Pages

When Macbeth develops second thoughts about killing King Duncan, Lady Macbeth tells him how to deceive others with his looks, by telling him to “Look like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under ’t.” (Shakespeare 1. 5. 76-77). In this quotation, Lady

Read More
1422 Words | 6 Pages

— Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.” After analyzing the play, when Lady Macbeth says those lines she is sleep walking and seems to be distressed because of all the things that happened. She thinks it's all because of her that many lives have been cut short. She thinks Macbeth is afraid of people finding out the truth but the one who is truly afraid is her. She's afraid she will be blamed and caught for her actions because she knows she is one of the reasons why most of the people are dead due to her encouraging Macbeth to kill all those in his way to become more powerful and eliminate those who threaten his power.

Read More
920 Words | 4 Pages

In this scenario, Lady Macbeth appealed to her husband’s understanding of manliness and valor, which meant comparing him to his own standards of what it means to be brave and honorable, even if she does not necessarily view it the same way. Shakespeare’s Macbeth provides a distinct example of audience analysis between Lady Macbeth and her husband, and illustrates the effectiveness of catering to an audience’s values. If Lady Macbeth were to appeal to things that Macbeth generally did not value, then he likely would not have responded the way she wanted him to; the same way a hunter does not expect to bait a rabbit with a chunk of

Read More
1724 Words | 7 Pages

In act one scene 7, Macbeth doubts if he should kill the king; however, his wife, Lady Macbeth, manipulates him into proceeding. It might be difficult for Macbeth, the renowned warrior, to hear his wife accusing him of cowardice. Therefore, under Lady Macbeth’s influence, as she questions his manhood, he commences the murder in order to prove to her that he is not a “coward.” This is important to note because his soliloquy shows his determination to proceed.

Read More
839 Words | 4 Pages

She encourages Macbeth to commit murder and uses her own persuasive powers to manipulate him. In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth says, "Look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under't" (1.5.76-77). This quote shows Lady Macbeth's willingness to make Macbeth do something evil just so she can get what she wants. The supernatural elements in the play also contribute to the theme of evil. The witches' prophecy and the apparition of Banquo's ghost serve as reminders of the supernatural forces at work in the play.

Read More
1503 Words | 7 Pages

That summons thee to heaven, or to hell” as these reference the unmoral parts of her life suggesting her disturbed nature could be because of her lack of sanity as she hallucinates the blood on her hands. Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as disturbed because she subverts the ideas of religion and the supernatural which were contradictory during the Jacobean era. Rather than fulfilling the audience’s expectations that religion and the supernatural are contradictory, she conjures the idea that they are similar as she says, “look like th’innocent flower but be the serpent under’t.” The auxiliary verb “be” is quite disturbing because she is demanding Macbeth to be a certain way showing her rebellion against stereotypes as women had to obey their husbands.

Read More
879 Words | 4 Pages

As quoted before, Lady Macbeth said, “your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (Shakespeare 1.6. 70-71). This clearly demonstrates the theme of appearance versus reality by saying not everything is what it appears to be on the outside as it is on the inside. Many characters in Macbeth changed their personality to present themselves as good, meaningful characters. In the meantime, many of them were also plotting deaths upon their enemies.

Read More
840 Words | 4 Pages

In the midst of an oncoming war, it is announced that Macbeth shall “hang those that talk of fear” (5.3.37). The instinctive response of fear has become forbidden as a consequence of Macbeth’s cold-blooded attitude. Similarly, he demonstrates this new demeanor when hearing the news of his wife’s death. The intrinsic human response of despair after the loss of a loved one is absent in Macbeth as he believes “she should have died hereafter”. Lady Macbeth’s husband has become so consumed by his remorse that he could not muster enough humanity to shed a tear for his beloved’s passing.

Read More
107 Words | 1 Pages

William Shakespeare portrayed the character Lady Macbeth to be extremely ruthless, malicious and manipulative. Thus, being the reason she could easily convince Macbeth to do her will, yet still put on such a convincing performance in front of those who knew nothing of her and her husband’s actions. Lady Macbeth shows her complexity constantly throughout the story when she shares her view-point on masculinity by demasculinizing her own husband, when she strategically plans the murder of the King Duncan, and finally when she finally goes crazy because of the guilt she possesses for not only her own actions but also turning her own husband into a

Read More
196 Words | 1 Pages

Furthermore, lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to become courageous and brave. Lady Macbeth manipulates him straight to his face, “Looks like th’ innocent / flower / but be the serpent under’t” (Act.1.6.76-77). Lady wants her husband to be fair, kind, and polite, but at the same time she

Read More
937 Words | 4 Pages

In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the theme of moral ambiguity plays a reacturent role throughout the play, through Lady Macbeth a dynamic character. Lady Macbeth goes on the journey of having to face her moral ambiguity, after her desire for her husband to become king of Scotland. Her desire came from a prophecy the witches told her husband and this is the first indication Lady Macbeth makes displaying her priorities and what she values. Lady Macbeth prior to this moment as come across as a normal and leveled headed character who would not have evil intentions, however; as this spark of desire comes so does her passion for evil doings. There is a pivotal change in her entire attitude, from the moment she begins to question her moral ambiguity which takes place after she comes to terms with her own emotions which she can no longer push aside, ultimately leading to betrayal of herself.

Read More
1959 Words | 8 Pages

Her ambition is not only for herself but also for Macbeth. Nevertheless, with all her fervor, she wants him to be as strong as her. “Make thick my blood./Stop up the access and passage to remorse,/That no compunctious visitings of nature/ Shake my fell purpose/Come to my woman’s breasts,/And take my milk for gall” (1.5.44-49). Lady Macbeth never wavers in her goal.

Read More
1367 Words | 6 Pages

“Looks like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it”(Shakespeare 1.7) this truly defines Lady Macbeth and describes her being someone that acts one way in certain situations and then in a contrary manner in others and also shows her manipulative personality and exploits her victims. Lady Macbeth is sharp at convincing and uses people for her need which she does throughout the play. In the play, The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth is ultimately responsible for Macbeth’s undoing because her ambition supported his greed and provoked his downfall. Lady Macbeth with her demanding and forceful comments triggered Macbeth 's weakness which leads Macbeth to agree on the murder.

Read More

More about Equivocation In Macbeth

Related Topics

Open Document