Theme: Appearance and Beauty

Theme Analysis: Appearance and Reality

General Overview

Intrinsic Duality: Macbeth exhibits a significant theme, the duality of appearance and reality. Things are not what they appear, reflecting the complex nature of human beings and situations.

Specific Examples in Context

Macbeth’s First Impressions: Macbeth initially appears as a loyal and brave warrior, however, succumbs to ambition and becomes a tyrant a clear difference between his image and actual persona.
The Weird Sisters’ Prophecies: The witches’ predictions appear promising to Macbeth but actually holds dire consequences, epitomising deceptive appearances.
Lady Macbeth’s Outward Charm: Lady Macbeth exudes charm and grace, cloaking her ruthlessness and manipulative nature, demonstrating a profound disconnect between appearance and inherent nature.

Macbeth: Macbeth’s transformation from a valiant warrior to a despotic king highlights the disparity between his initial appearance and final reality.
Lady Macbeth: Lady Macbeth’s outward gentility masks a dark, avaricious heart blurring the lines between outward beauty and inward evil.

Duncan’s Murder: Macbeth’s murder of Duncan underlies the central theme where the appearance of a loyal subject hides the reality of a treacherous murderer.
Banquo’s Ghost: Banquo’s ghost, visible only to Macbeth, symbolises the dichotomy of reality and illusion.

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair…” suggests the inversion of order, the confusion between appearance and reality.
“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t…” instructions from Lady Macbeth to Macbeth urging him to hide real intentions behind a facade.