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True Reality In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

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Daydreaming, cloud walking, and hallucinating are all words that can explain escaping the reality of earth, and with such an unpredictable world one could understand wanting an escape from harsh realities. When William Shakespeare writes Macbeth he shows how unbearable reality can be so he provides his characters with versions of reality for release, but as they deal with these realities they also depend on faces they put on to hide the truths in their actual realities. The themes of versions of reality and masks tie together to help conceal the truths of reality and emotion. With characters taking on their own versions of realities and empty actions made present as patterns in Shakespeare's work Macbeth it is clear to see that Shakespeare …show more content…

The three witches speak of an actual reality but also a reality that does not exist. The first witch says “All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!” which is the true reality, however, the Second says “All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!” and the Third “All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!”which are both untrue statements at the time (1.3.149-151). The Second and Third witches making these statements when they did showed a different version of reality to Macbeth. The result of the witches telling Macbeth this future reality is the motif of faces and masks making its first appearance during the fourth scene. When Macbeth pretends to be happy upon hearing the news that Malcolm is the next heir to the throne. “I'll be myself the harbinger and make joyful / The hearing of my wife with your approach;” Macbeth tells Duncan to show that he is happy about the news and is joyed to host the celebration, however, that isn’t how he really feels (1.3.126-127). Macbeth’s true feelings are shown in his aside when he lets the reader know that Malcolm becoming king is seen as an obstacle in his way. He also continues in his aside to say “Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires:” this holds a deep meaning as it is Macbeth’s recognition that he is lying straight to their faces, and is …show more content…

Apparitions tell Macbeth the future reality this time. The first apparition tells “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; / Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.” (4.1.1630). The second says that no man born from a woman shall harm him, and the third apparition that “Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until / Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him.” (4.1.1660). These all sound for the most part empowering to Macbeth, but he does not know that the truth is being hidden from him this time. Cleverly the witches and apparitions are simply masking certain words in double

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Dismiss me, enough” (V. i. 78-79), “None of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth.” (V. i. 87-89), and Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until / Great Birnam wood / to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him. (V. i. 101-103.) These visions lead Macbeth to be so blindsided that he puts himself in danger.

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Let the earth hide thee.” (3.4. 113). Nobody except Macbeth can see the ghost, so to the guests, he appears to be losing his mind and his true inner feelings are beginning to shine through. He later says to Lady Macbeth, “Can such things be and overcome us like a summer’s cloud... When now I think you can behold such sights and keep the natural ruby in your cheeks when mine are blanched with fear.”

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Readers are introduced to the three witches that tell Macbeth his future. Towards the end of the book the witches showed four apparitions to Macbeth which were an armed head, a bloody child, a crowned child holding a tree, and a line of eight kings including Banquo. Each of these apparitions were warnings to Macbeth about his future. The apparitions presented to Macbeth that he would be defeated by a man not born of a woman and that it would be after a forest moved. (Shakespeare 4.1.1-145).

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In William Shakespeare’s fiction novel, The Tragedy of Macbeth, the author creates a sense of mystery and misfortune through his use of paradox, fate, and internal character struggle in the scenes of the story in order to give setting to the dialogue and commentary in each act. With the use of these tools, the author is able to build suspense and create the mood of the scenes by using the element of mystery to set up the events of the novel, thus fueling the reader’s hunger for answers and knowledge, and the element of misfortune with the constant situations and tragedies, such as unfortunate loss of loved ones because of a character’s actions and choices in life resulting in that character’s downfall. The use of paradox helps gives structure

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Macbeth sees these apparitions to be sweet omens. Well, he deceives himself when he says that. The witches plan to make these apparitions seem like sweet omens to Macbeth yet at the same time the truth. And it consequently comes true for Macbeth.

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When Macbeth is told by the first vision that he needs to beware of Macduff, his fears are confirmed that Macduff is a threat. When Macbeth is told this, he decides to kill Macduff’s family (Mac IV.i.71-74). Just like the witches, the apparition does not force Macbeth to act upon what he has been told, but still steers Macbeth towards violent

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After the victory of Banquo and Macbeth against the king 's traitor Macdonwald the witches presence contract the vibe of manipulation seeking Macbeth as its next victim. As they encounter with Macbeth and Banquo, they start-off questioning the trio of leery ladies. "look not like the inhabitants of the earth, / And yet are on it"; they seem to understand him, and yet he cannot be sure; they "should be women," and yet they are bearded. One by one the witches told Macbeth his upcoming abundance of power leaving him immensely petrified. As a result the prophecies were the contemporary force plaguing Macbeth into slaughtering King Duncan for his aspiration.

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The next apparition tells Macbeth that he will not be defeated until “Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill/ Shall come against him”

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Alas, toward the end of the play, Macbeth lacks confidence in his safety as king. He seeks the advice of the three witches once again to solve his questions. He states, “I conjure you by that which you profess … answer me” (Shakespeare, 4.1.50-51). The witches send three apparitions to answer his demands. The first confirms his suspicions that he must fear his opponent, Macduff.

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(Shakespeare 4,1,78-79). The apparition warns Macbeth about the Thine of Fife. This reassures Macbeth as he was previously suspicious of Macduff. The apparition influences his action to carry out the decision to slaughter Macduff’s family. It is unknown if the same decision would have been made if he did not view the apparition.

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Macbeth then discovers that he has indeed be thane of Cawdor, then he believes the rest of the prophecy” (Bevington, par. 2). The three witches are telling Macbeth that he will become

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For Macbeth’s desire to know more about his future, the Second Apparition says: “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn / The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth… Then Macbeth responds, “Then live, Macduff. What need I fear of thee? / But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, / And take a bond of fate.

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Without Macbeth realizing the minor fault in these prophecies, he starts to gradually become more ambitious and more determined to kill Duncan in order to become king quickly as possible. The witches advance the plot again later in the play when Macbeth demands answer of his fate. They show Macbeth three more prophecies spoken by apparition; a head wearing a battle helmet, a blood-covered child, and a child wearing a crown and carrying a tree. The witches show Macbeth the three apparitions who tell him, Beware Macduff; /

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As such, Macbeth is once again influenced by what the witches call upon. Three apparitions appear before Macbeth. The first apparition is his own severed head, confirming his fears about Macduff. In Act IV, Scene I, the apparitions say these words “Macbeth! Macbeth!

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During the Renaissance, witchcraft was highly praised and believed in by many. The Renaissance, “like many European cultures of the period, medieval Scotland maintained a belief in witches, including their ability to make prophecies and to affect the outcome of certain events” (“The Historical Context of Macbeth”). Humankind during the Renaissance believed witches could control one’s outcome; therefore, the witches were able to manipulate the fates of people. Likewise, in Macbeth, Macbeth’s belief in the three witches leads to his impending death. Macbeth was told by the three witches that “the power of man; for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.83).

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