One of the main themes in William Shakespeares Macbeth, is appearance versus reality. Shakespeare is recognized for his exceptional ability to make the reader wonder which is which, keeping the reader aware, yet intrigued. He presents and develops this theme throughout the play with many of the characters, including Macbeth, the porter at the gate and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is deceived by his ambition, the porter by his drunken state of mind and Lady Macbeth by her guilt. Macbeth sees a dagger before him, confusing him about whether or not to kill King Duncan. The porter at the gate is drunk, and pretends to be the porter of Hell Gate, and unknowingly allows Macduff and Lennox into the castle, allowing them to find King Duncans corpse. Lady Macbeth sees blood on her hands in her sleep, showing her guilt for her evil deeds. Although the guilt caused by these actions seem like punishment enough, they still endure further consequences.
Macbeth is deceived by his ambition, his power, and most of all by his fear. In Act II, Scene I, he sees a dagger before him. This is just as he is about to kill King Duncan. He sees it floating, but he cannot feel it. As stated, Thou marshalest me the way I was going and such an instrument I was to use (Shakespeare, 1997, 2.1.50-51). It does not foreshadow Macbeths plan for King Duncans murder, because the reader is already aware of that. Instead, it confirms it. It symbolizes his passion, his desire, and his longing for power. It also symbolizes the power he already has over Duncan, because he is his guest. He is unaware that this is what is causing his premature guilt. Thy very stones prate of my whereabout, and take the present horror from the item, which now suits with it (Shakespeare, 1997, 2.1.66-68). Although he has not yet committed the crime, he is scared that he will get caught. However, his fear of failing his wife overcomes his fear of being caught guilty of killing King Duncan. While I threat, he lives, words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives (Shakespeare, 1997, 2.1.88-89). Macbeth thinks that if he keeps talking, he will overcome his fear. Macbeth is just one character that is deceived by what appears to be real. As Macbeths guilt and fear develop throughout the play, a lot of other incidents begin to add to Macbeths guilt.
The porter at the gate in Macbeths castle is deceived by his drunken state of mind. While he may not be a major character, he still plays an important role in the play. The porters drunken slumber is interrupted by Macduff and Lennox as they come to Macbeths castle. Before this, he wakes up and he is not exactly sure what is happening to him or to anyone else for that matter, because of his unawareness. Heres a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of Hell Gate, he should have old turning the key (Shakespeare, 1997, 23.1-2) The porter compares Macbeths castle to hell and pretends to be the porter of Hell Gate. This foreshadows what will later become of Macbeths castle after both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have become insane. This suggest that often we know more a bout certain situations in our sleep that when we are actually awake. Also, when the porter says Ill devil-porter it no further (Shakespeare, 1997, 2.3.15), he foreshadows what will become of Macbeth and his evil deeds, sounding very disapproving of it. The porter is unsure of who he is letting into the castle. He is deceived by his drunkenness, letting Macduff and Lennox into the castle, not really knowing who they are or why they have come, because he is still pretending to be the porter of Hell Gate. He does not realize what he as done, leading to the discovery of King Duncans corpse, provoking most of the other events in the play.
Lady Macbeth is deceived by her guilt. She is observed walking and talking in her sleep. Her guilt has destroyed her innocence, and her self-hatred has eaten her from the inside. Out, damned spot! Out, I say!...What! Will these hands neer be clean? (Shakespeare, 1997, 5.1.30-31). Lady Macbeth sees blood on her hands, symbolizing her guilt. She feels as though she needs to be cleansed of her sins, something she thinks he infected mind and disturbed soul will never allow her to do. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand (Shakespeare, 1997, 5.1.44). She knows that as long as she is still alive, she will live a life of guilt. The positions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth change, and Macbeth now has the upper hand. Before, Lady Macbeth would command her husband to do anything she wanted him to do, and she would yell at him for being a coward if he did not do it. Her ambition seems to have been contagious, because Macbeth allowed himself to kill Banquo and Macduffs family, crimes that added to Lady Macbeths guilt. The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? (Shakespeare, 1997, 5.1.34-36). In Act five, Scene five, Lady Macbeth is found dead, showing that she had greatly suffered for her actions. Lady Macbeths character has changed a lot since the beginning. Before, her ambition seemed so intense that she would never feel guilty, no matter what she did. However, this is proved wrong when she sees the blood on her hands, and it drives her insane. The misconception of the blood on her hands contributes to her guilt, and is deceived by what her state of mind percepts it to be.
Many characters in Shakespeares Macbeth are deceived by what appears to be real. Macbeth is deceived by his ambition, and seeing the dagger only increased his ambition. The porter was deceived by his drunken state of mind, leading to the discovery of King Duncans corpse. Lady Macbeth was deceived by her guilt, and seeing the blood on her hands only made her realize it more, therefore leading to her death. They each accept the consequences for their actions. This theme is not only presented and developed with these characters. It is also shown with many other characters, other than the ones discussed. Shakespeare does an exceptional job in presenting this theme to the reader.
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