Macbeth Honor Quotes

Firstly, Macbeth wears the cloak of disillusionment, which makes him appear as if he is a subject to honor, but in reality he is a man only of dishonor. Macbeth, a cousin of the king, is quickly established as a general of great prowess, who has decorated himself with the glory of defeating the rebellion and repelling an invasion against Scotland. He is “brave Macbeth” (1.2.16), “valor's minion” (1.2.19), “Bellona's bridegroom” (1.2.54), “noble Macbeth” (1.2.67). Even Duncan, the king himself, exclaims, “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!” (1.2.24). His courage in war is a thing of “honor” (1.3.104), and so he is presented with the tittle thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is repeatedly being painted with the strokes of these heroic lines of honor.

He does not want to be a loyal servant to the king, but rather be the king with loyal servants to serve him. And because of these ambitious thoughts lurking in his mind, he must ask the “Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires” (1.4.52-53). So that no one can see through his wall of false appearance and discern his true deepest desires. Hence, Macbeth appeared to be an honorable and exemplary candidate for the role that king Duncan bestows upon him, but in reality he is only dishonorable for he has notion of regicide to become king himself and must appears to be loyal to a king “whose murder yet is but fantastical” (1.3.139). Also, Lady Macbeth hides herself behind the wall of her false appearance which makes her seem as if she is the greatest of hostess, but in reality she too has “black and deep desires” (1.4.52-53), to kill king

Lady Macbeth, who through her hospitality, appears to be of no threat to king Duncan, uses her “false face” (1.7.82), to “hide what the false heart doth know” (1.7.82), so that the king is mesmerized into a false sense of security. She, through her courtesy, appears only to be entertaining king Duncan and his grooms with a fine fest, but in reality is using the “wine and wassail” (1.7.64), as an instrument in the dastardly drugging of Duncan's grooms. She too, herself, makes it look as if "she is nothing but “th' innocent / flower” (1.5.56-57), when in reality she is nothing but the “serpent under’t” (1.5.58). Lastly, Banquo presents himself with a mirage of forever lasting loyalty towards Macbeth, but in reality he too wants the witches prophecies to come true for him and bare kings as children. Banquo, who did not fail in suspecting that Macbeth might have “played’st most foully” (3.1.3), for such a prestigious title, takes on the role of “chief guest” (3.1.11). Why would a man not fled nor turn against the one who he suspects to be