William Shakespeare is known for his use of illusions that distort reality to show how characters perceive situations, and how those perceptions can determine fate. Shakespeare is able to employ this theme in his characters’ thoughts, words, and actions. Deciding and acting on what is real and what is not can make or break a character. This is apparent throughout Macbeth, a play that thoroughly exemplifies the theme of illusion vs. reality.
In Act I of Macbeth there are many instances of illusion vs. reality. For example in scene three the three weird sisters, also known as the witches meet the title character and his fellow warrior Banquo. The witches are there to tell Macbeth that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and one day become king. …show more content…
In this quote Banquo is showing his hesitation to trust the witches and is trying to tell Macbeth, who is caught up in what the witches are telling him about a rise to power, the same. At this they vanish into thin air, and the men are left questioning their sanity. Macbeth’s willingness to heed illusions leads to his downfall and destruction. Since he turns what should have remained an illusion into his own personal reality, he brings upon a terrible fate. Not soon after that Ross says to Macbeth in reference to King Duncan, “He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor” (Act 1 sc. iii line 110). In saying this Macbeth thinks the prophecies are starting to come true. From then on he is immediately hooked on the idea …show more content…
When his wife first informed Macbeth that he was a coward who wouldn’t be able to kill in order to gain power, he was in shock. He was skeptical of the thought of even having to kill Duncan to obtain the power he sought for. “First as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself” (Act 1 scene 7 line 13). In this quote Macbeth is looking inside himself for the killer Lady Macbeth called upon. When he can not find it he comes across rational thought as to why he shouldn’t kill King Duncan: He is Duncan’s loyal man as well as allowing him to stay in Macbeth’s house, he should be protecting Duncan’s life not putting it in danger. Once he loses his grip on his realization of his morals he kills Duncan. Once the killing is over Macbeth begins to have haunting thoughts and guilt to the point where he begins to feel crazy. “Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” (Act 2, sc. ii, line 35). In this quote it can be seen that he is starting to become guilty and imagines voices in his head that prevent him from sleeping. He switches from a rational loyal man to the cold-blooded killer his wife thought herself to be. They essentially switched roles. Had he realized his true self he would not have made such a big mess of things. All it took was separating illusion
In Act I of Macbeth there are many instances of illusion vs. reality. For example in scene three the three weird sisters, also known as the witches meet the title character and his fellow warrior Banquo. The witches are there to tell Macbeth that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and one day become king. …show more content…
In this quote Banquo is showing his hesitation to trust the witches and is trying to tell Macbeth, who is caught up in what the witches are telling him about a rise to power, the same. At this they vanish into thin air, and the men are left questioning their sanity. Macbeth’s willingness to heed illusions leads to his downfall and destruction. Since he turns what should have remained an illusion into his own personal reality, he brings upon a terrible fate. Not soon after that Ross says to Macbeth in reference to King Duncan, “He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor” (Act 1 sc. iii line 110). In saying this Macbeth thinks the prophecies are starting to come true. From then on he is immediately hooked on the idea …show more content…
When his wife first informed Macbeth that he was a coward who wouldn’t be able to kill in order to gain power, he was in shock. He was skeptical of the thought of even having to kill Duncan to obtain the power he sought for. “First as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself” (Act 1 scene 7 line 13). In this quote Macbeth is looking inside himself for the killer Lady Macbeth called upon. When he can not find it he comes across rational thought as to why he shouldn’t kill King Duncan: He is Duncan’s loyal man as well as allowing him to stay in Macbeth’s house, he should be protecting Duncan’s life not putting it in danger. Once he loses his grip on his realization of his morals he kills Duncan. Once the killing is over Macbeth begins to have haunting thoughts and guilt to the point where he begins to feel crazy. “Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” (Act 2, sc. ii, line 35). In this quote it can be seen that he is starting to become guilty and imagines voices in his head that prevent him from sleeping. He switches from a rational loyal man to the cold-blooded killer his wife thought herself to be. They essentially switched roles. Had he realized his true self he would not have made such a big mess of things. All it took was separating illusion