Mcbeth: Appearance Vs Reality

In real life, we should not judge people solely on their appearances. There are many people who appear to be trustworthy but in reality, are not. Appearance versus reality is an important theme in William Shakespeare's Macbeth. The theme focuses on characters who are deceived by what appears to be real, and on the tragic consequences that follow this error in judgment. These characters include, Duncan, who trusts Macbeth too much; Lady Macbeth, who tricks by the witches and herself; Macbeth trickes by other people in the play.

King Duncan trusts Macbeth too much. Macbeth appears as a super hero and faithful to King Duncan. He fights against the traitor Macdonwald, and he helps the king to solve a great problem that is won the war. Duncan trusts Macbeth very much because of Macbeth's heroic efforts and he gives Macbeth a title Thane of Cawdor. Actually Macbeth is not that faithful to the king, he has the ambition to be the king when he hears the prophecies from the three witches. After Macbeth back to his castle, he plans to kill Duncan with Lady Macbeth, but Duncan doesn't recognize this and goes to Macbeth's castle to visit him. When he just gets in he says something very important:

Duncan says, 'This castle hath a peasant seat; the air/ Nimbly and sweetly reconnends itself/ Unto our gentle senses.'; (Act I, Scene 6, Lines 1-3)

This quote shows that Duncan like Macbeth very much even he feels that Macbeth's place is comfortable for him. Duncan never suspects the trustworthy of Macbeth and never does anything to guard himself. Macbeth kills Duncan easily. Therefore Duncan has deceived by Macbeth's appearance.

Lady Macbeth tricks by the three witches. When Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth the prophecies from the three witches. Lady Macbeth thinks that it will be terrific for her to be a queen when Macbeth becomes the king. Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill king Duncan, and this action causes Macbeth to start his first crime. Lady Macbeth becomes sleeplessness, nervous and she kills herself. The witches' appearance lets Lady Macbeth to her death ending. Lady Macbeth also tricks by the appearance of herself. In the beginning she thinks that she should persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan. When Lady Macbeth knows about the prophecies from the witches, She says:

'Come, you spirits

That tend on mortal toughts! Unsex me here,

And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full

Of direst cuelty; make thick my blood,

Stop up the access and passage to remorse,

That no compunctious visitings of nation

Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between

Th'effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,

And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,

You wait on neture's mischief! Come, thick night,

And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,

That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,

Nor heaven peep through the balanket of the dark

To cry, 'Hold, hold!''; (Act I, Scene 5, Line 37-53)

In this quote she is saying that she should give out her weak, does whatever man does and become evil. She thinks that she is manful and strong, but actually she is not, she become sleeplessness and nervous. Therefore Lady Macbeth tricks by the three witches and herself.

Macbeth has tricked by the appearances of other people. First Macbeth tricks by the appearance of the three witches. On their way back from the war against Macdonwald, they meet the three witches. The three witches greet Macbeth Thane of Glimis, as Thane of Cawdor, and as the future king of Scotland. The witches also tell them that Banquo's next generation will become that king. When Macbeth meets Duncan, Duncan gives him the title Thane of Cawdor. The witches seem to appear to help Macbeth and tell him important prophecies. Macbeth begins to fall into the trap, because of the first prophecy he hears from the three witches has came true. After he goes back to his castle, he plans to kill Duncan with Lady Macbeth, and he kills Duncan. The witches second prophecy has also came true, Macbeth does not recognize that those witches are deceiving him. Macbeth does care about the third prophecies that Banquo's next generation will be king very much, he worries that his kingdom will not stay long, and replace by Banquo's son. Macbeth orders the Murders to kill Banquo and his son