Essay/Term paper: Macbeth: appearance vs reality

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Macbeth

Macbeth: Appearance vs Reality

Brooke Soper


The way people act on the outside and who they really are on the inside
may be two totally 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 you try to act like someone your not, the truth will
always appear in the end. 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, Banqou tends to hold back his true feelings in
order not to offend others around him. At one point in the play, Banqou 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". (Act I,
Scene 3) 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,
Scene 1. Banqou 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." (Act III, Scene
1) 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." (Act I, Scene 3) 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 his
wife for strength and she replies; "We, Fail!" Even though his actions appear
strong, his reasons are very weak. The largest portrayal of MacBeth's
feebleness comes when Banquo's ghost appears before MacBeth's eyes. "Hence,
horrible shadow! Unreal mockery, hence!", MacBeth exclaims as he sees Banquo's
ghost. Why would a King be afraid of shadows? A very weak man, MacBeth
crumbles under pressure and guilt.
Just like her husband, Lady MacBeth paints herself as a very potent
woman. But the murders and guilt beat at her conscience until she too crumbles.
At one point in the play, Lady MacBeth says, I have given suck and no how
tender tis to love the babe that milks me; I would, while it was smiling in my
face, have plucked the nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out,
had I so sworn as you have done to this. (Act I, Scene 7) The latter shows
that Lady MacBeth appears strong and heartless in her actions toward others.
Even when her husband stands before her having a nervous breakdown in the
banquet scene, instead of trying to help, she orders her poor delirious husband
to bed so that he won't create a scene. In both of the above cases, her husband
turns to her for help, but she speaks harsh words to him to keep her appearance
strong. However, she is not strong at all. The whole time she was acting
strong, her insides were tearing apart at the seams. One night a gentlewoman
comes to a good doctor for help about her mistress. Lady MacBeth had been sleep
walking for the last few nights; mumbling words and pretending to wash her hands
from a translucent blood that she feels is lingering on her hands. The good
doctor says she is not physically ill, but mentally ill. The whole time Lady
MacBeth had put up a defense to appear potent, but in reality, she is just as
weak as her husband is.
Banquo, MacBeth, and Lady MacBeth all paint a vivid picture of their
personalities on the outside; but as proven, they are totally different people
on the inside. No matter what, reality will conquer appearance. Whether it is
slow like MacBeth and Banquo's change; or whether it is abrupt like Lady
MacBeth's, the truth will emerge in the end.