Examples Of Contradictions In Macbeth

Throughout the play Macbeth we see the use of contradictions thickly through the dialogue. A contradiction is the use of statements, ideas or features of a situation that are opposed to one another. My believe is that the use of contradictions in this play are used to show how people hide their true feelings by an outside appearance. Also the use of contradictions is used to make us think of something in another way.
In the beginning of Macbeth, Banquo speaks of the three witches appearance. “Upon her skinny lips: you should be women,And yet your beards forbid me to interpret.”(Act 1, scene 3) It is contradictory to think of a woman, who is usually thought of as being dainty and soft, having something as manly as facial hair. The use of facial hair on these women is used to show how they are not typical women, they are powerful. In order to be powerful in Macbeth’s time you had to be a man, women held no power or authority. So if these witches were beautiful, Macbeth might have not taken them seriously or …show more content…
Right after Duncan’s death Lady Macbeth states to her husband, “Go get some water,And wash this filthy witness from your hand.”(Act 2, scene 1) This to me shows that she has no concern of being caught having committed this crime, yet further reading into the story shows us that in all honesty Lady Macbeth’s confidence seems false in hopes of pushing her husband to succeed. In Act five, scene one during Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking she states, “Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so pale.--I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried; he cannot come out on's grave.” Sleep is a person’s absolute most relaxed state, so the fact that Lady Macbeth makes this statement while asleep shows us her true feelings. She has contradicted herself greatly, she is no longer seen as a strong, independent women, but a fearful, young