How is the theme of appearance versus reality presented in Macbeth?
The theme of appearance versus reality is continuously presented throughout
Macbeth by Shakespeare ; the theme proves important in multiple aspects. The
theme of appearance versus reality is of major significance in both the plot
development but also as the main element of dramatic irony and tension throughout
the play. The theme is also used by Shakespear to teach the audience moral lessons
and, contextually, to please King james.
Shakespear first presents the theme of appearance versus reality through the
witches’ ambiguity, shown in the quote Act 1, Scene 1, ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair.’
Here, Shakespeare emphasises the theme's element of contrast using chiasmus.
The mirror-like effect of the chiasmus structure emphasises the contrast between
these juxtaposing ideas both ‘fair’ and ‘foul’. This emphasis of the contrast creates
confusion and thus discomfort amongst the audience consequently creating dramatic
tension. Due to this tension, the audience’s discomfort towards the witches’ on stage
presence is also heightened. This would have pleased King James, who had a
strong abhor for witches. Shakespeare also uses this quote to teach a moral lesson,
the dichotomy between fair and foul is used to suggest that things may not always be
as they seem – an idea that is prevalent throughout the play. Shakespear also
presents the theme of appearance versus reality through the witches’ physical
appearances. In Act 1, Scene3, Banquo comments on the disparity of the witches’
appearances, 'You should be women, …And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
that you are', the contradictory facial features of the witches thus emphasises the
abnormal nature of their overall existence. This creates dramatic tension as the
presence of the witches on stage become further stigmatised as bearded women are
seen as supernatural. By representing this theme through the witches’ appearances,
Shakespear is able to further please King James as the physical appearance of the
witches in Macbeth are written in accordance to the description of witches in King
James’ book Daemonologie. Shakespear, by presenting the theme of appearance
versus reality through the witches, is able to stigmatise the witches, create dramatic
tension, teach a moral lesson and also please King James.
Another way the theme is presented is through the character Macbeth. The theme of
appearance versus reality plays a major role in contributing to Macbeth's peripeteia
as it is often used by Shakespeare to put emphasis on Macbeth’s inner immorality.
For example, in Act 1, Scene 4 King Duncan describes Macbeth as “.. a gentleman
on whom I built an absolute trust”, this quote instigates dramatic irony due to its
contradictiveness. At this point in the play the audience is aware of Macbeth’s true
inner thoughts of treason, whereas King Duncan is unaware of this and thinks of
Macbeth as someone he wholly trusts. This emphasises the immorality of Macbeth’s
treason as it is a betrayal of King Duncan’s absolute trust in him. The immorality of
Macbeth’s betrayal is further emphasised contextually, considering the chain of
being, Macbeth’s betrayal of King Duncan would have been considered as going
against the King’s divine right which was sinful. This idea of Macbeth’s outward
appearance versus his inner immorality is later explored in Act 1, Scene 5, where
Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth to “look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent
under't”. In this quote, Shakespeare uses the antithesis of a ‘flower’ and a ‘serpent’
to emphasise the contrast between Macbeth’s outward ‘innocent’ appearance and
his inner treacherous thoughts. The antithesis functions to heighten the drama as
Macbeth’s perfidiousness becomes increasingly evident to the audience. Later on in
the play, as a consequence of Macbeth’s manipulation of his outer appearance, he
begins to struggle with the inner conflict of being unable to tell what is and isn't reality
anymore. Macbeth’s deteriorating sense of reality is shown in the appearances of the
“dagger” in Act 2, Scene 1, and the “Ghost of Banquo” Act 3, Scene 4. This conflict
created by the theme of appearance versus reality is arguably one of most significant
in emphasising Macbeth’s loss of composure as the result of his deception and
opposition to the divine right of kings. This inner conflict and Macbeth’s growing
incapability of defining reality is ultimately what fuels his hamartia, blind ambition, as
he begins to become more and more unhinged. Ultimately, it is this descent into
delusion and moral corruption which leads to Macbeth’s downfall. Through Macbeth,
the theme of appearance versus reality acts to develop the plot as it perpetuates
Macbeth’s downfall.
The theme is similarly presented by Shakespeare to show and contribute to Lady
Macbeth’s downfall ; the theme is used to show Lady Macbeth’s inner conflict and
her growing guilt which inevitably acts as her hamartia. Shakespeare shows the
inner conflict of Lady Macbeth in response to the murders of Lady Macduff and
Banquo where at first, she appears to be unaffected, but soon starts to lose her
sanity trying to wash the “blood” off her hands. Shakespeare insinuates that the
"blood” is an illusion, visible only to Lady Macbeth. This shows that when Lady
Macbeth and Macbeth committed the ultimate sin of regicide, they broke the great
chain of being, which subsequently led to Lady Macbeth's mental deterioration .This
embodies the theme of appearance versus reality as Lady Macbeth becomes
incapable of hiding her inner conflict or her ‘reality’ any further. The theme is also
used to question the legitimacy of Lady Macbeth’s power. Throughout the play
Shakespear shows Lady Macbeth to be a powerful figure as she is repeatedly shown
to have jurisdiction over Macbeth’s actions. However this powerful external
appearance of Lady Macbeth becomes contradictory in the quote “Unsex me here
and fill me from the crown to the top toe full of direst cruelty.” which insinuates how
Lady Macbeth’s ambitions are actually limited by her gender and the gender norms
of Jacobean society. Lady Macbeth’s power struggle, due to her gender, aligns with
the play's broader theme of appearance versus reality. As previously mentioned,
characters like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth consistently contort their appearances to
mask their true intentions, yet house inner conflict or their internal contradicting
‘reality’.
