William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a testimony to the difference between greed and ambition, good and evil, and right and wrong. The story shows that when one becomes obsessed with power, they will often resort to methods of manipulation and retaliation to achieve their desired outcome. In the case of Macbeth, he is approached by the Three Witches who inform him that he will one day become Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. Additionally, they inform Macbeth’s comrade Banquo that his sons will one day be kings.
For example, due to his desires, he decides it is best to kill his best friend, Banquo, so he can have an easy route to becoming king, without consequences. For example, within the play, Macbeth states, “Both of you know Banquo was your enemy.” With this quote, Macbeth is sending two murders to kill Banquo so he does not have to be suspected of committing another murder. Not only did he kill his friend, but he stole the lives of two servants, Macduff’s family, and worst of all, King Duncan. Before Macbeth heard the witches' prophecies, he was known for being a loyal soldier, however, after hearing the prophecies, he let his desire for power consumed him, and ultimately led him to his foreshadowed death.
For example, after Macbeth encountered the witches, he had a small monologue. In one part, Macbeth claims, “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,/ Shakes my single state of man,” which shows he believes the prophecies and resorts to murder to make them come true (act 1, scene 3, lines 148-153). This piece of evidence helps
Thanes Macduff and Ross try to make sense of everything, with the wistful knowledge of an old man. “God’s benison go with you and those That would make good of bad and friends of foes” (II.iv.55-56). This marks the beginning of the end to “fair is foul, and foul is fair” (I.i.12) In the end, Macbeth’s ambition and lack of control over his thoughts are what leads him to his tragic end. The audience saw how one foul deed on Macbeth’s part inadvertently started his slow, but inevitable downfall.
Knowing that killing is a wrong, he will not let anything stop him from making the prophecies true. It is as he is under a spell to complete it for the witches. In one of Macbeth’s famous monologues, he states, “I have no spur/to prick the sides of my intent, but only/vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself/and falls on th’ other”(1.7.25-28). At this point, his thirst to become king is stronger than any will left in him, which shows once again that the witches are in total control of him. Another instance, is when he agreed with Lady Macbeth of going through with the plan of killing Duncan.
“fair is foul and foul is fair.'' This means what's seen as good may be bad and what's seen as bad may be good. Lady Macbeth portrays this quote in the book. Even though Lady Macbeth is just a woman and is just Macbeth's wife she's seen as harmless or not able to do anything bad. But that's exactly how she became more powerful from the shadows, using her status as a woman to her advantage, because of how she's seen as innocent, but what's seen as (good may not always be good).
To begin, Macbeth demonstrates desperate and ruthless choices as he reaches for power which doesn’t belong to him. For example, when Macbeth is talking to himself about what he should do about the second part of the prophecy. Banquo, one of Macbeth's friends, also received a prophecy that his children would be their heirs to the king. Wanting to keep the power of the throne he says “Given to the common enemy of man/To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings./Rather than so, come fate into the list,/And champion me to th’ utterance”(3.1.74-77). Macbeth is not willing to take any chances when it comes to keeping the power he has been handed.
The statement "Reasonable is foul, foul is reasonable. " this is one of the last lines in Act 1 Scene 1 when the witches are anticipating occasions to come in the play, Macbeth. It uncovers that appearances can be misdirecting and what has all the earmarks of being great can be awful. Macbeth gives off an impression of being great outwardly however is directed to underhanded by the witches' expectations and by his better half's power. The great case for this is , toward the start of the play, Ruler Duncan trusts Macbeth to be a devoted hireling however Macbeth in the long run deceives Duncan's trust and murders him to take the position of authority.
After hearing the witches’ prophecy, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth only focus on the last part of it which was Macbeth becoming king. This relates to the theme because Macbeth decides to take action and kill Duncan in order to make sure he is king. This also shows his disillusionment as he is doing anything for his fate to be proven true. Macbeth feels threatened by Fleance after the witches told Banquo his prophecy, which was that he will have a line of kings. “Fleance, his son, that keeps him company, / Whose absence is no less material to me / Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate / Of that dark hour” (3.2.134-138).
In the play The “Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare”, it discusses how “foul is not fair and fair is not foul.” In ACT I scene 1 line 10 all 3 witches had stated that “fair is foul and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air”. Which means that looks can be deceiving. ACT I
His first example of this is when Banquo questions the fact of how the prophecy was quickly falling into place, Banquo says, "Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou play'dst most foully for't" (Shakespear III. 1. 1-3), after listening to Banquo's remark Macbeth decides that it is best to have him killed so that he will not be in the way of the plan. His second example of this is when he is speaking with the murders about the plan for killing both Banquo and Fleance. In the play their conversation goes as, "Well then, now Have you considered of my speeches? Know That it was he in the times past, which held you So under fortune, which you thought had been Our innocent self ….
A boy likes to help people when they need some. The boy finds someone to help because they were struggling with carrying a heavy item. The boy gets done helping and finally makes it home. When he gets home, his mom chews him out for helping someone instead of making it home. The boy’s story shows the theme of fair is foul and foul is fair.
After achieving the title of the King of Scotland, Macbeth wants to secure his position as the king and desires to inherit the Scottish throne to his ancestors. His aim was showed in “To be thus is nothing, /But to be safely thus” (III, i, 52-3). This quote reveals that Macbeth not only wanted to become the king but also wants to secure his position as the King of Scotland for the welfare of his upcoming generation. This reveals Macbeth’s is implying the witches’ prophecies; as long Banquo’s sons live, Macbeth’s throne would not be able to inherit down to his ancestors. As the play progresses, Macbeth’s hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, as represented through, “Banquo, thy soul’s flight, /If
At the start of the play, Macbeth visits the witches with Banquo at the closing of the battle. The witches speak to Macbeth and Banquo and get the idea of a prophecy in Macbeth’s mind. “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” (1.3.46-48). When the witches get the prophecy in Macbeth’s mind, he believes it will come true and misunderstands the prophecy of the witches. Although the witches make Macbeth believe in the prophecy of becoming the King, Macbeth is responsible for his downfall because they do not recommend Macbeth to kill Duncan.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 12) is a quote said by the three witches in the beginning of the play. It explains that what is fair or pretty will become ugly or what is ugly will become pretty. Macbeth was once fair and innocent but corruption turned him ugly by the end of the play. The witches gave hints of what's to come with that quote. By the end, Macbeth was becoming more of a megalomaniac.
