Macbeth is a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare. In the play, there is a famous quote that states the tone of duplicity throughout Macbeth, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (I.i.11). This quote is a paradox that means that good may be bad, and bad may be good. This quote also portrays duplicity because it shows that something good, such as a good person, may be bad, whereas a bad person may be good. Duplicity plays a significant role in character development in Macbeth because the play shows that people may not be who they seem to be.
Macbeth, the protagonist of Macbeth, is first seen as brave and heroic but as the play progresses, it is revealed that Macbeth is secretly two-faced and power-hungry. During the beginning of the play, …show more content…
As stated in the introduction, the quote “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (I.i.11) shows that someone who is deemed good, may be secretly evil, whereas someone considered evil, may secretly be good. The word “fair” in this quote means innocent, pretty, and worthy of liking, while the word “foul” means awful, ugly, and wicked. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth represents ¨fair is foul¨ because they are considered “fair” and good, when they are actually “foul” and wicked. On the other hand, an example of ¨foul is fair¨ may be the characters Malcolm and Donalbain. The reason for this is because Malcolm and Donalbain are suspected and seen as guilty and “foul” by the other characters, when they are actually innocent and “fair”. After Duncan’s murder, Macduff says, “Malcolm and Donalbain, the King’s two sons, are stol’n away and fled, which puts them suspicion of the deed” (II.iv.35-38). In this quote, Malcolm and Donalbain “fled” after hearing about their father’s murder because they feared for their own lives. Malcolm and Donalbain is worried about being assassinated next because they were to become the heir of the throne. Unfortunately, Malcolm and Donalbain’s escape “puts them suspicion of the deed” because the other characters thought that Malcolm and Donalbain ran off to avoid the consequences and guilt of killing their father, when in actuality, Malcolm and Donalbain never killed Duncan. This shows reverse duplicity because Malcolm and Donalbain is innocent, but is thought to be
Macbeth, the protagonist of Macbeth, is first seen as brave and heroic but as the play progresses, it is revealed that Macbeth is secretly two-faced and power-hungry. During the beginning of the play, …show more content…
As stated in the introduction, the quote “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (I.i.11) shows that someone who is deemed good, may be secretly evil, whereas someone considered evil, may secretly be good. The word “fair” in this quote means innocent, pretty, and worthy of liking, while the word “foul” means awful, ugly, and wicked. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth represents ¨fair is foul¨ because they are considered “fair” and good, when they are actually “foul” and wicked. On the other hand, an example of ¨foul is fair¨ may be the characters Malcolm and Donalbain. The reason for this is because Malcolm and Donalbain are suspected and seen as guilty and “foul” by the other characters, when they are actually innocent and “fair”. After Duncan’s murder, Macduff says, “Malcolm and Donalbain, the King’s two sons, are stol’n away and fled, which puts them suspicion of the deed” (II.iv.35-38). In this quote, Malcolm and Donalbain “fled” after hearing about their father’s murder because they feared for their own lives. Malcolm and Donalbain is worried about being assassinated next because they were to become the heir of the throne. Unfortunately, Malcolm and Donalbain’s escape “puts them suspicion of the deed” because the other characters thought that Malcolm and Donalbain ran off to avoid the consequences and guilt of killing their father, when in actuality, Malcolm and Donalbain never killed Duncan. This shows reverse duplicity because Malcolm and Donalbain is innocent, but is thought to be