English resources/Macbeth/Appearance and reality
Appearance and reality in Macbeth
Fair is foul. A flower with a snake under it. A smile with a knife in it. Nothing looks like what it is.
The quotes
19 quotes, in the order they happen.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair
Witches · Act 1, Scene 1 · the supernatural · appearance and reality
Good things are bad. Bad things are good. That is the rule of the play.
When the battle's lost and won
Witches · Act 1, Scene 1 · the supernatural · appearance and reality
A fight can be won and lost at the same time. That is Macbeth's whole story.
So foul and fair a day I have not seen
Macbeth · Act 1, Scene 3 · the supernatural · appearance and reality
Macbeth's first words copy the witches. He has not met them yet.
The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's In deepest consequence
Banquo · Act 1, Scene 3 · the supernatural · appearance and reality
Banquo sees the trick. The witches tell small true things so you believe one big lie.
There's no art To find the mind's construction in the face
Duncan · Act 1, Scene 4 · appearance and reality · kingship
You cannot read a face, says the king. Then Macbeth walks in. The king cannot read his face.
Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires
Macbeth · Act 1, Scene 4 · ambition · guilt · appearance and reality
Macbeth asks the stars to go dark. He does not want anyone to see what he wants.
Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell
Lady Macbeth · Act 1, Scene 5 · the supernatural · guilt · appearance and reality
She asks the night to hide the murder. Her husband asked the stars the same thing.
Look like th' innocent flower, But be the serpent under 't
Lady Macbeth · Act 1, Scene 5 · appearance and reality
Look like a nice flower. Be the snake under it. That is her plan.
False face must hide what the false heart doth know
Macbeth · Act 1, Scene 7 · appearance and reality · guilt
Show a false face. Hide what you really feel. The murder plan is set.
A little water clears us of this deed
Lady Macbeth · Act 2, Scene 2 · guilt · appearance and reality
She says a bit of water will clean them. In Act 5, nothing can.
There's daggers in men's smiles
Donalbain · Act 2, Scene 3 · appearance and reality · violence
The king's sons run away. Any smile could hide a knife.
By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes
Witches · Act 4, Scene 1 · the supernatural · appearance and reality
The witches call Macbeth 'something wicked'. He is one of them now.
none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth
Apparition · Act 4, Scene 1 · fate and free will · the supernatural · appearance and reality
No one born from a woman can hurt Macbeth. He feels safe. He should not.
Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him
Apparition · Act 4, Scene 1 · fate and free will · the supernatural · appearance and reality
A forest cannot walk, so Macbeth thinks he is safe. The army carries branches.
Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell
Malcolm · Act 4, Scene 3 · kingship · appearance and reality
Even the devil was an angel once. Malcolm tests Macduff. He trusts no one.
Now does he feel his title Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe Upon a dwarfish thief
Angus · Act 5, Scene 2 · kingship · appearance and reality
The crown does not fit him. It is like a giant's coat on a small thief.
Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more
Macbeth · Act 5, Scene 5 · fate and free will · appearance and reality
Life is a short candle. A bad actor on a stage. Then gone.
I bear a charmèd life, which must not yield To one of woman born
Macbeth · Act 5, Scene 8 · fate and free will · the supernatural · appearance and reality
Macbeth still trusts the witches. The next line breaks him.
Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripped
Macduff · Act 5, Scene 8 · fate and free will · the supernatural · appearance and reality
Macduff was cut out of his mother, not born. So the spell does not protect Macbeth.
Now play today's Long Story ShortOne real news sentence. Keep five of its words. Two minutes. Free. No login.Play now