Macbeth Microtheme free essay sample

A smile could mean a real smile, though it could also mean anger, revenge, or deceit. â€Å"And nothing is what is not. † (1. 3. 155). This line being said by Macbeth, shows what’s underneath his layer of faithfulness: he starts to believe that the right thing to do is kill Duncan. It said after the witches gave the prophecy that Macbeth will become king and after Macbeth is announced Thane of Cawdor, showing that the prophecy may very well be true. Macbeth is expressing that he is confused about what to do – something that may seem right to him, will not seem right to the people around him. Macbeth seems like a very faithful man; he fought for Duncan, the king, and really cares about his friends and his country. Along with his confusion about his moral reasoning, he also expresses his shock for seeing the supernatural (evidently, witches aren’t a normal spotting). We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth Microtheme or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Look like th’ innocent flower / but be the serpent under ‘t. †(1. 6. 76-77). Said by Lady Macbeth, this quote compares the difference of physical animals to the deceitful personality she wants Macbeth to persevere. A flower is innocent, attractive, and sometimes bland – unlike the look of a murderer. A serpent is cruel, dangerous, and sneaky: the exact qualities a murderer needs to do his deed without getting caught. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth’s personality tilts closer to the flower, while nearing the end, it clearly shows the other end of the scale (a serpent). The supernatural doesn’t appear in random situations; it always has a purpose. â€Å"Is this a dagger which I see before me? † (2. 1. 44). It is unclear whether it was a sign of the supernatural or a hallucination his feverish mind had made. But whether it was supernatural or not, it meant something. If it were his mind’s creation, it may have been a sign of his guilt and that it was just as easy to take his own life, as he had taken Duncan’s. If it were the supernatural, it may have been a sign that his troubles are not yet ending, and that he will use that dagger yet again later on, unfortunately, killing his friends and the people closest to him. Reality is, there was no dagger because when he reached out to grab it, his hand went right through it. False face must hide what the false heart doth know. (1. 7. 95) Macbeth starts to realize that what he has done isn’t all bad, and that since it’s done with, the time has come to hide the reality of it all. The quote literally means ‘You will act like nothing has happened and nothing is wrong. ’ Macbeth started out as a simple, faithful person; not having anything to hide until the witches told him about the prophecy and his wife told him to kill Duncan – which he did. Lady Macbeth on the other hand, seems very cruel at the beginning, but towards the end, we see how she’s become weak because of her sleep-walking and that she is racked with guilt. â€Å"The world is governed more by appearances than realities, so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it. † – Daniel Webster. This quote perfectly explains that hiding our reality is human nature. Everyone errs and lies, no matter how great or small – including all the main characters in Macbeth. Without a false reality, there would be no such thing as deciet.