The End

Deception is the heart of Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Everything revolves around what seems to be; however, the truth does not emerge until the end when all deceptions are revealed. The witches and Macbeth use the tools of deception to cloud the issues and move the play along leaving the reader to ascertain what is real. The Weird sisters set up the theme of appearance vs. reality with their opening lines "fair is foul, and foul is fair, /hover through the fog and filthy air" (1.1.12-13). These lines hint to the reader that people and events in the play will not be as they appear! When the witches give Macbeth his three titles Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis, and King hereafter (1.3.51-53) thoughts of suspicion arise. Will Macbeth try to achieve these titles or let things take their natural course? Banquo tries to be the voice of reason and portrays feelings of doubt in his lines: "That, trusted home, /Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, /Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But tis' strange./ And oftentimes to win us to our harm,/The instruments of darkness tell us truths, /Win us with honest trifles, to betray's/ In deepest consequence"(1.3.32-38).

Your vessels and your spells provide, Your charms and everything beside. I am for th' air. This night ill spend Unto a dismal and a fatal end. Great business must be wrought ere noon. Upon the corner of the moon There hangs a vap'rous drop profound. Ill catch it ere it come to the ground, And that distilled by magic sleights, Shall rise such artificial sprites As by the strength of their illusion, Shall draw him on to his confusion. He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His hopes Ð''bove wisdom, grace, and fear. (3.5.18-31) In these lines, Hecate reveals that she plans on showing Macbeth illusions that will lead him to destroy himself. Hecate believes Macbeth is doing everything for himself, and does not appreciate anything the witches have done for him. This fuels Hecate's anger and knowing how