Macbeth

Main Themes
Deception as a theme

 Deception is one of the main themes in Shakespeare's Macbeth. It is first

introduced to us in the opening scene of the play. When we first
encounter three witches, they speak in a very ambiguous language- the
language of paradox.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair
Hover through the fog and filthy air“ ( Act I , i)

 They all chant these words - things may seem good, but might be evil and
vice versa. What is good for me might be bad for you.
 Shakespeare creates a paradoxical mood in the opening scene to set his
main theme in the play.
Deception as a Theme

 The theme occurs again in Act I scene ii in the character of the Original
Thane of Cowador who has been one of the closest friends of King
Duncan, and finally was caught guilty of deception. For which the King
says:
“There is no art to find the mind's construction in the face“ ( Act I, ii)

You can't tell what a man’s mind says by looking at him in the face; the
face may appear good, but the heart is not.
Deception as a Theme

 Lady Macbeth is the most skilled deceiver in the play. When she resolved
to murder King Duncan while he is paying them a visit , she advice her
husband to deceive him by all means.

" O, never Shall sun that morrow see!

Your face, my thane, is as a book where men
May read strange matters.
To beguile the time, Look like the time.
Bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue. Look like th' innocent flower,
But be the serpent under ’t ( Act I, v)

 Moreover, when Macduff returns with the news of the murder, she
pretends and faints!
Deception as a Theme

 Macbeth also demonstrates deception in many instances. He deceives the

King, Banquo, and finally deceives his own self. When Banquo narrates his
dream of the three witches to him, Macbeth pretends to have forgotten the
witches at all.
Banquo: All’s well. I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters:
To you they have showed some truth.
MACBET
  I think not of them.
Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,
We would spend it in some words upon that business,
If you would grant the time ( Act II, I )

Macbeth also pretends to be angry when Macduff finds out that the king is
dead, and he kills the two guards of the King.
Ambition as a Theme

 Shakespeare introduces Macbeth as an exceptional man who

stands in a very high position. He is presented in the play as a
brave general in the Scottish army, who let the victory of his
nation against the rebels; therefore Macbeth fulfils the basic
requirements of a tragic hero – Protagonist. However, because
of his devious ambition, Macbeth's fall doesn’t arouse a great
sympathy like that of conventional tragic hero such as Hamlet
or Oedipus. Macbeth's ambition is no better than that of the
Satan. He identifies himself with Satan when he revolts
against the Great chain of being. So that Macbeth's tragic
flaw, like Satan, is a devious ambition.
Ambition
 Because of his immoral ambition, Macbeth is chosen to be a victim by the
three witches. The prophecies of the three witches escalate the action of
the play, thus the idea of killing the king occurs repeatedly in his mind.
 A conflict between ambition and conscience is suddenly sprung in
Macbeth's mind. He is aware of the moral objections of killing a king. He
was able to defeat his ambition for some time, but when his wife steps in,
all is in vain.
“We will proceed no further in this business“ (Act I, vii)

 She first questions his love and than his manhood. She accuses him of
cowardice for which he says:
Prithee, peace:
I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more is none.
( Act I , vii)
Ambition
 Her strong rhetoric defeats his conscience and revives his
ambition, and he finally agrees with his wife to do the act.

“I am settled, and bend up

Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.
Away, and mock the time with fairest show.
False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

( Act I,vii)