Fair Is Foul And Foul Is Fair In Macbeth

The main themes in Shakespeare’s plays often present ideas with underlying meaning. In the opening of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the three witches state “fair is foul and foul is fair.” This line establishes a theme appearing several times throughout Macbeth. The idea that good and bad frequently come together influences the characters’ actions and the play’s ending. “Fair is foul and foul is fair” makes everything seem different than previously thought. Because the witches start out the play with the theme “fair is foul and foul is fair,” the audience can expect many twists and turns in the plot. The theme first appears in the murder of King Duncan by Macbeth. Although Macbeth welcomes Duncan into his home as friends, he carries out a death plan driven by his longing for the crown. The audience expects Macbeth to remain the hero of the play, but he actually becomes the villain. Fueled by the witches’ prophecies and his wife’s wicked mindset, he deceives Duncan by acting fair but carrying out a foul deed. Lady Macbeth even persuades Macbeth to “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t,” displaying the main theme perfectly. “Fair is foul and foul is fair”
Macduff has always been weary of Macbeth, and towards the end is where the audience can see that they will never get along. In Act one, all of the people staying at Macbeth’s house keep marvelling over everything he has, Macduff stays silent. Macduff also hears that Macbeth is the new prospective king, and instead of going and talking to others about it, he goes home. Macduff always shows loyalty to his country and wants the best for it. This also portrays “fair is foul and foul is fair” because Macduff always wants the best things for his country, yet bad things keep happening that could terrorize Scotland’s