Comparing Macbeth's 'Fair And Foul'

“Fair and Foul” Defines Macbeth Shakespeare wrote over 30 plays throughout his lifetime, but one of his most famous works is Macbeth. Shakespeare wrote Macbeth to impress King James I of England also known as King James VI of Scotland. The play begins in Scotland, with three witches that are arranging a time to meet with Macbeth and tell him his prophecy. Later Macbeth and Banquo come upon the witches when they tell Macbeth that he will be Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and finally, King. They tell Banquo that he will be lesser than Macbeth but a better person and that his descendants will be Kings. Shortly after the witches disappear, Ross and Angus enter and inform Macbeth that he is the new Thane of Cawdor, perfectly following
through with the witches’ prophecies. King Duncan decides to change the rule from the strongest Thane becomes king after his death to his son Malcolm obtaining the throne.
He then tells Macbeth that he will be staying at his house tonight. Macbeth writes a letter to his wife Lady Macbeth explaining all that has happened. Upon reading his letter, Lady Macbeth devises a plan to intoxicate Duncan’s guards and Macbeth to kill him. Macbeth never agrees to this but Lady Macbeth seduces him into committing the crime. When morning comes Macduff arrives to wake up the king but is stunned at the scene of a dead king and 3 guards. Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain decide to flea Scotland in fear of a conspiracy to murder them will arise, leaving Macbeth entitled to the throne. Macbeth remembers that the witches said that Banquos’ sons will become Kings and hires three murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. The murderers successfully kill Banquo but Fleance escapes. Macbeth decides to visit again the three witches to see what the future holds. They show him three apparitions; an armed head, a bloody child and a crowned child with a tree in his hand. Macduff is the first person to question Macbeth’s innocence with Duncan’s death. Macduff leaves his family unprotected to go to England and find
Malcolm. Macbeth has Macduff’s family murdered. When Macduff meets with Malcolm he convinces him to come back to Scotland and kill Macbeth. Then Ross enters and tells him of the murders of his family. Malcolm and Macduff group an army together and head to fight Macbeth in the Birnam Woods. Macduff kills Macbeth off stage and returns to the stage with his head. In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, the most prominent theme is “Fair is foul and foul is fair” (I,1,13,7) portrayed by Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Macduff. The first character to display “Fair is foul and foul is fair” is Macbeth. When Lady Macbeth is seducing him to kill Duncan, Macbeth responds with 10 reasons why he says no. “He’s here in double trust: First I am his Kingsman and his subject, strong both against the deed”, (I,7,12-14,39). Macbeth is a loyal subject to the king and knows these actions would be foul. He does not want to kill Duncan because he trusts Macbeth and is loyal to him as well. With Banquo’s prophecy from the witches in mind, Macbeth plans to murder not only Banquo but also his son Fleance. “Its is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, If it find heaven, must find it out tonight”, (III,2,161-162,91). Banquo’s prophecy lead Macbeth to believe that he had killed Duncan for Banquo’s sons. Macbeth decides to set up a murder for Banquo, even though he is a fair man committing foul actions. After the mysterious death of Duncan and Banquo, Macduff begins to question Macbeth’s innocence with these murders. Macbeth decides to kill Macduff’s family. “I am in blood, stepped in so far that, should I wade no more. Returning were as tedious as I go o’er”, (III,4,136-138,119). Macbeth is now responsible for the deaths of Duncan and his three guards, Banquo and Macduff’s family. He is an entirely foul man in every aspect of his life. Macbeth was originally a fair man but becomes completely foul. Throughout Macbeth, Lady Macbeth goes from “Foul to fair”.
After reading Macbeth’s letter she makes a plan to murder Duncan. “Look like th’ innocent flower But be the serpent under’t. He that’s coming Must be provided for; you shall put this night’s great business into my dispatch”, (I,5,66-70,340). Lady Macbeth feels no remorse for planning to commit this murder. Her actions are completely foul by deceiving Macbeth into killing Duncan and telling him how he should. After the murder is committed Lady Macbeth shows a small amount of remorse. “Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done’t”, (II,2,12-13,54). Lady Macbeth feels that Duncan resembled her father so closely that she could not commit the crime. She knows that killing her father could be a foul action, which explains why she did not kill Duncan. After Macbeth arranges Macduff’s family to be killed Lady Macbeth extorts sympathy towards the family. “The thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? What will these hands ne’er be clean”, (V,1,36-37,180). Lady Macbeth repents her and Macbeth’s actions because is aware that they are foul. She shows sympathy towards Macduff for the loss of his family. The doctor explains to Macbeth the reasons why his wife cannot sleep at night. “Not so sick, my lord, As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies That keep her from rest”, (V,3,39-41,192). Due to the immense guilt Lady Macbeth has she sleepwalks and confesses to her actions. She is completely fair because the
guilt of all of the murders finally hit her and she cannot go on and leads her to commit suicide. Lady Macbeth begins from being foul and eventually becomes fair. The only character to be both Fair and Foul simultaneously is Macduff. Lady Macduff expresses how Macduff is not a good husband and father. “To leave his wife, to leave his babes, his mansion and his titles in place from whence himself does fly? He loves us not”, (IV,2,6-9,146). Macduff is foul because he is not a good husband and father to his family. Instead of staying and protecting his family against Macbeth, he leaves to England to find Malcolm. Macduff displays his patriotic actions when he kills Macbeth. “I have no words. My voice is in my voice is in my sword. Thou bloodier villain Than the terms can give thee out”, (V,8,7-9,212). Killing Macbeth is the fairest thing Macduff has done. Although he is a foul husband and father, he is a loyal and fair patriot to Scotland. Macduff has a unique characteristic in which he is both fair and foul at the same time. “Fair is foul and foul is fair” is the main theme of Shakespeare’s Macbeth shown by Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Macduff. Macbeth begins as a fair man who does not want to kill his beloved king and ends up murdering his best friend. Lady Macbeth is foul but results in becoming fair when the guilt of the murders take a toll upon her so deeply she commits suicide. Macduff is fair because he is a loyal patriot to Scotland but is foul because he is a weak husband and father to his family. This theme occurred right before the outbreak of World War I. Before World War I many European citizens had never experienced a war in their lifetime. When talk about a war arose everyone became excited not acknowledging the horrific lasting effects it would have. To many, war was a time to show nationalism and bravery for their country. Once the war began to show its ugly aspects, civilians regret when they had wished and were excited for the war. This shows “Fair is foul and foul is fair” similarly to Shakespear’s Macbeth. The concept of “Fair is foul and foul is fair” has been shown all throughout history and will continue to occur in the future.