Truth Emerge
Essay by 24 • April 30, 2011 • 1,036 Words (5 Pages) • 1,143 Views
The way people act on the outside and who they really are on the inside may be two completely different things. Some may change because they feel they don't fit in. Others pretend to be something they truly aren't. No matter which way you look at it, if one tries to act like someone they're not, the truth will always appear in the end. If one is jugded by they way they look on the outside, it really isn't a valid opinion for it is likely that the opinion may be the opposite of what that person actually is. That is exactly what happened in William Shakespeare's play, MacBeth. Banquo, MacBeth, and Lady MacBeth each project an image, but as time passes, the realities of their true personalities begin to emerge.
As an honorable man, Banquo tends to hold back his true feelings in order not to offend others around him. At one point in the play, Banquo and MacBeth find themselves in the presence of three weird sisters who make three absurd predictions. MacBeth leans toward believing them while Banqou says, "And oftentimes, to win us to do our harm, the instruments of darkness tells us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray's in deepest consequence". (I,iii,132 35) A thoughtful, yet skeptical Banquo speaks his words here very carefully to MacBeth in order to remain honorable. He doesn't want to come right out and tell MacBeth to be cautious in his actions, so he tries to soften his words so that MacBeth might contemplate his future movements. However, MacBeth does not take heed of Banquo's warnings. Because of the witch's predictions and his impatience, MacBeth kills in order to get what he expects is coming to him. When Banquo takes time to contemplate what has been going on, he turns his thoughts to MacBeth. He expresses his feelings about the situation in Act II (i,40-46), Banquo feels that MacBeth might have something to do with the murders, but he never stands up for his thoughts or listens to his conscience until MacBeth comes to him one day. When MacBeth asks to talk privately to Banquo, Banquo states; " So I lose none in seeking to augment it, but still keep my
bosom franchised and allegiances clear, I shall be counseled." (III,i,32-35) Banquo means that he will talk to MacBeth, just as long as MacBeth knows that he is loyal to the King. This is the only time that Banquo sets his foot down against others to stand up for his morals.
Just like Banquo, MacBeth's appearance differs from his true self. MacBeth portrays himself to be strong and wise, but inside he is truly weak. When he first faces the witch's predictions, he says; " Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day." (I, iii, 45-46) Basically he says that any good fortune that may come to him in the future, will come on it's
own. He wants to appear collected, strong, and noble, but in the end, he completely contradicts his statement by greedily killing men to get what he expects is his for the taking. This shows his extreme weakness because he believes what three weird strangers tell him. Not only is he weak with the three weird sisters, but he is also weak with his wife. MacBeth goes to his wife right after he planned to kill Duncan, and proclaims; "If we should fail?" in order to receive some reassurance from his beloved wife. He turned to
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