1. Themes Notes Date: Objectives
Take notes on the themes of Macbeth
Understand the point, ideas and reasons for reading Macbeth
Warm-up – take down the quote and answer the question.
‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair’. (Witches, Act 1.1)
Write what you think this means?

2. Plan for today – examine theme one.
1. Introduction
Addressing the question.
2. Loyalty
Introducing the world
6. Conclusion
How important the theme is.
Appearance versus Reality
5. Lies lead to more lies
3. Macbeth as victim
4. Macbeth as deceiver

3. Theme One: Appearance versus Reality
In Macbeth things are not always what they seem. As the witches say in the opening scene; ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair’. This is a paradox; a statement which contradicts itself. Throughout the play however, we shall see it to be true.
We will now examine the false appearances in the play. We shall see the world Shakespeare conveys which is full of traitors and Macbeth himself is both a victim of deception and a deceiver.
(Who tricks Macbeth and who does Macbeth trick, betray or backstab?)

4. Loyalty
The play starts with traitors; with a war between King Duncan and men once thought to be loyal to him. Duncan tells his son;
“There’s no art/ To find the mind’s construction in the face” (Act 1.4) or in other words, you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. He is aware that appearances can be deceiving; that something can look good or fair but in fact be evil or foul. He does not follow his own advice though and trusts Macbeth, whose betrayal supports his point.
Malcolm learns from his father’s mistakes and tests the loyalty and integrity of Macduff. (Do you recall how he tests Macduff; what he says?)

5. Macbeth as a victim
Macbeth is a victim. The witches appear to predict a great future for him while concealing the ugly reality or truth. They tell him just enough to manipulate him; to make him think he can get away with murder or fight without fear of death. Only at the end does he understand their trickery:
“And be these juggling fiends no more believed
That palter with us in a double sense” (Act 5.8)
They speak half-truths; appearing to say one thing when the reality is different. Like Duncan, Macbeth is fooled by appearances and faces the consequences of his trust.
(juggling fiends = witches. That palter/play with us, things with two meanings)
(Telling some truth is a great way to lie. What were the witches correct about?)

6. Macbeth as Deceiver
Macbeth is also a deceiver, as is his wife. Lady Macbeth explains the need for a false show or appearance to hide their real intentions, as she says:
“To beguile the time,
Look like the time, bear welcome in you eye,
Your hand, your tongue – Look like th’innocent flower
But be the serpent under’t.” (Act 1.5)
They play being noble and innocent hosts; appearing friendly to the king before killing him in his sleep. They appear sad then about his death as Macbeth kills Duncan's guards to cover up what really happened.
(Look at this guide to deception. Write what you think it means?)
(Beguile = charm, enchant, trick)

7. Lies lead to more lies
When Duncan is dead, Macbeth has all the more need to speak falsely and deceive. He casually speaks with Banquo, insisting on his presence at the feast, while plotting to kill him. He then lies to the murderers, telling them that all their problems were caused by Banquo:
“Know that it was he, in the times past, which held you so
under fortune” (Act 3.1)
Though Macbeth becomes King through these lies, he cannot enjoy it. By getting power in such a manner, he can never relax for if any of the lies he tells is revealed he would be killed. This makes him paranoid and crazy.
(Have you ever told a lie? Can you recall what it was and how you felt after?)

8. The End
Just as fake appearances get Macbeth power, they also take it away. He is undone by the differences between appearance and reality; specifically in relation to the witches prophecies. Birnam Wood seems to move towards Dunsinane castle as Malcolm's army use branches for cover. Macduff also appears to have been born of a woman, though he was actually delivered by C. section.
“Macduff was from his mother’s womb
Untimely ripped.” (Act 5.8)
Macbeth is killed because of this half-truth. Every major event in the play is affected by appearance versus reality; showing how dangerous the ignorance of reality can be.
(Once you’ve read through all this notes, summarise them in your own words. Six paragraphs, 2 pages, use the quotes.)