Deception in Macbeth by Shakespeare Essay - 559 Words

Deception is defined as â€Å"the act of tricking someone by telling them something that is not true†. In the play, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, deception is always present and things are not always what they appear to be. In this great work of literature, the three witches; the Thane of Cawdor; and Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are the very embodiments of trickery and show us the true effects deception can have on man. From the first scene of the play, the reader immediately gets a glimpse of the deception meshed into Macbeth’s world. The quote â€Å"Fair is foul and foul is fair† is a commonly used by the three witches, spoken in their equivocal language. This same language of vagueness is used when the witches encounter Macbeth and Banquo on the†¦show more content†¦The depiction of timeless issues such as these is what makes the storyline of the play compelling to me. Also, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both strong conveyors of deceit. From the onset on the play, Macbeth is characterized as strong and loyal to his king and country. However, once the witches’ prophecy is planted in his head, his thirst for King is so intense that it cannot be quenched and slowly his admirable traits are erased. When Macbeth is preparing for the King’s arrival at his house, he starts to question his murderous thoughts. He states that the King will be here in â€Å"double trust† , for Macbeth will be his hostess and will also be acting as a subject of the state. How can he possibly do such a grim task? The answer is Lady Macbeth. She lusts after becoming Queen and living a life of fantasy and does everything in her power to persuade her husband to kill the King. She questions his courage, she feeds his ego and she emasculates poor Macbeth all in an effort to get what she wants disguised as what is best for him. When he agrees, she tells him to â€Å"look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t† in order to commit this regicide. Lady Macbeth, such a beautiful woman, is actually a cunning, strategic and determined lady – so determined that she’s willing to risk everything and make her husband lie to the king and betray him. It’s funny how things are not always what they appear to be. In conclusion, theShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Hometown Of The English Language And The World s Best Dramatist1266 Words   |  6 Pages Although many knew him as a keen businessman in his hometown of Stratford, William Shakespeare is recognized as the greatest writer in the English language and the world s best dramatist. (www.goodreads.com) He wrote hundreds of songs, plays, books, and poems. During his time, his plays were well under-appreciated and a lot of his work did not appear until seven years after his death. Without Shakespeare, the English language would have never expanded at the rate it did, erasing many common wordsRead Morecompare and contrast150 7 Words   |  7 PagesStory Time and Macbeth 4. Compare and contrast the dramatic function of deception in two plays. The two plays that are going to be compared are ‘Macbeth’ and â€Å"Old Story Time†. Macbeth is written by a well-known dramatist by the name of William Shakespeare. Old Story Time is written by one of Jamaica’s best playwrights Trevor Rhone. ‘Macbeth’ is often said to be one of Shakespear’s most powerful tragedies. According to Poem hunter.com William Shakespeare was widelyRead MoreSelf-Deception in Macbeth1011 Words   |  5 Pagesto be true.† Self deception is a human weakness. It means that even though something maybe wrong and untrue if an individual believes it enough it will come to pass. No matter what someone may say, it is hard to change ones opinion because that is what the person truly believes. This is portrayed in William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, through the actions of various characters. Shakespeare clearly shows the idea of self-deception through their actions and how this self-deception leads to moral disorderRead MoreEffects Of Deception In Macbeth848 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’, first performed in 1606, is a play which demonstrates the psychological and physical effects that come on those who are greedy and selfish and seek power. Macbeth, a brave Scottish general, receives a prophecy from three witches stating he is to become king. Consumed by ambition, and supported by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan, and takes the throne for himself. Once King, his paranoia forces him to commit more murders to hide the fact he killed King Duncan. Deception is arguablyRead MoreMacbeth Ambition Analysis1009 Words   |  5 PagesMacbeth: The Risk of Vaulting Ambition A tragic hero is one of the most significant factors of a Shakespearean tragedy. It is commonly known as virtuous but through a special circumstance, it leads them to their own downfall. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is a classic example of a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s definition. Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as a man of power with devotion who is altered greatly by his deep ambition. He succeeds in creating sympathy for Macbeth, asRead MoreDeception and Betrayal in William Shakespeares Macbeth639 Words   |  3 PagesDeception and Betrayal in William Shakespeares Macbeth The play ‘Macbeth† written by William Shakespeare† not only shows us how betrayal and deception undermines society but how it restores the moral law and society back to the way it was before the Thane of Cawdor and the tyrant Macbeth brought about the destruction in the first place. the play Macbeth also featured two changes to the throne of Scotland, both as a result of betrayal, deception, the aid of the weirdRead MorePower And Ambition In Macbeth746 Words   |  3 PagesThe bloodstained tragedy of Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, captures the destructive physical and psychological effects ambition can cause on those seeking power for individual benefit. The play focuses on Macbeth, a heroic Scottish general, who encounters a trio of witches who prophesied that Macbeth will become the King of Scotland. Absorbed in ambition and motivation from his wife, Macbeth does the unthinkable for the Scottish throne – murders King Duncan. Marking the inception of Macbeth’sRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth And King Lear1605 Words   |  7 Pagessource of abuse, and can lead to many complications due to the madness it causes. Shakespeare manages to draw both mad and tragic parallels in two of his tragic plays, Macbeth and King Lear, which have both gone down as literary picassos. In both plays, themes of madness and injustice are clearly present ed, along with containing parallel ideas about scheming, hypocrisy, and abuses of power. Likewise, female deception is also very apparent in both of the works plot, only adding to the idea of madnessRead MoreTheme Of Darkness In Macbeth1001 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is considered to be one of the best writers of all time in the eyes of many. This is due in part to his impeccable use of figurative language and literary devices. He was known to use literary devices to portray reoccurring themes throughout his many plays. In one of his shortest works, Macbeth, many different overtones are present throughout the entire play. Feelings of darkness, guilt, ambition, and distrustfulness are in nearly every act. Shakespeare portrayed these thingsRead MoreDepartment 19 Villains1170 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Essay English Through the study of the three texts; Department 19 by Will Hill, ‘Macbeth’ the play and The Social Network by David Fincher, it is evident that literary villains are archetypes that often represent the evil side of human nature. One may argue that each villain has certain traits that allow the reader to be drawn to the terror and horror of their deeds yet also allow readers to reflect upon the society that has created such individuals. Authors stray their villains from the stereotype