Shakespeare’s plays are peppered with instances of people and events not being what they seem. He uses this theme of ‘appearance and reality’ for both comedic and dramatic effects, and the theme comes in many forms. Here are a few:
- intentional deception
- unintentional misunderstandings
- false loyalty and friendship
- mistaken gender and class
- wise fools and foolish wisemen
- hidden motivations
- lies and confessions
- bickering lovers and kissing foes
Here's an example: In I.iv., King Duncan is discussing his relationship with the then-in-office Thane of Cawdor, and how he is surprised to hear of the thane's disloyalty. When describing this revelation, Duncan explains that there is "no art / To find the mind's construction in the face (I.iv.12-13.) This notion is naive at best, and in saying so Duncan is demonstrating his lack of ability to see a man’s true intentions. Of course not all men wear their “mind’s construction” upon “their face.” Many times an individual’s true thoughts and are purposely hidden away, and the expression upon one’s face is anything but a reflection of his or her true intentions. It is called lying. This flaw is the very flaw that leads to Duncan’s own death. If he had realized that seeing a man’s true thoughts is very much an “art,” then he would have seen Macbeth’s true intentions and never spent the night at his home.
Your task: Find a moment of deception – either intentional or intentional, either literal or figurative – somewhere in Act I and II. Cite the passage and explain how and why it is a moment of deception. Be sure to read all of the comments. We’d like to try to avoid repeats. The rules of composition apply – complete sentences, grammar, correct citations, etc. Keep in mind, some of the examples you’ll find in the play are pretty subtle. Be sure to examine character actions and intentions and motivaitons as well as the words they merely say. Please note, we are not looking for plot generalizations. We are looking for specific moments in the text that demonstrate this theme. Quotations and citations are mandatory.
Extra credit: If you wish, you may comment on your peer’s responses, either agreeing or disagreeing with their responses. If you do decide to engage in this aspect of the blog, be sure to add something to the conversation. Simply agreeing or disagreeing will not take the discussion forward. You need to support your responses.
Suggestion: You probably want to construct your response in Word, for spell check and revision purposes, and then copy and paste it into the blog field.
