Fair And Foul Is Fair In Macbeth

“Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair” is a symbolic quote throughout the play. It is first mentioned by three witches in Act 1 scene 1 as a symbol of foreshadowing the upcoming events within the play. Its most simple meaning is that fair and foul can represent different meanings from different perspectives. In other words, what someone may think is fair could be foul for another person. Regarding the witches, this line in the poem represents their evilness and what they inspire. What is fair in the real world is foul to the witches and vice versa. However, as this theme develops throughout the play, it ultimately suggests that reality(foul) can be covered up by a false appearance(fair). Lady Macbeth is the first person to suggest to Macbeth about murdering King Duncan. Macbeth, anxious about killing such a good king, is convinced by his wife when Lady Macbeth insists, “Your hand, your tongue. Look like th’ innocent flower/But be the serpent under ’t”(Act 1 Scene 6 ll. 76-78). Lady Macbeth advises her husband to be two faced: act as a serpent and commit the murder, but cover it up with the innocent flower persona. After the murder was committed, Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s entire life became something that they continually needed to cover up with a false …show more content…
This quote is an image that Macbeth has of himself standing the middle of a river of blood. This quote comes in act IV, so the murder of King Duncan and his best friend Banquo has already happened. He envisions himself so far down this river that it is impossible for him to turn back around. Symbolizing that Macbeth is regretting his actions, but because he has made so many other actions on top of murdering King Duncan, there is no possible way for him to return to the way things once