What a Tangled Web We Weave
From the beginning of time man has deceived to avoid consequences and achieve his evil
desires. The first to deceive was the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Since then man has been
caught in the, "tangled web of deception". In the play MACBETH, by William Shakespeare,
deception is used several times and is the cause of death for the tragic hero Macbeth. It is
the medieval time period in Scotland, and witches have gained the trust of Macbeth by telling
him he will be king of Scotland. When Macbeth does become king, he completely relies
on the witches prophecies, and as a result many people get caught up in a web of deceit that leads
to his downfall and death.
The theme of deception is introduced early in the play by the witches when they say,
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair"(1.1.12). What this quote means is that things are not what they
appear. This proves true several times throughout the play, such as when Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth are planning to kill King Duncan. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth, "Look like the innocent
flower, But be the serpent under't"(1.5. 67-68). What she means is, Macbeth is to appear nice
and friendly to Duncan, but in reality have evil intentions for him. Macbeth echoes what Lady
Macbeth told him when he says, "False face must hide what the false heart doth know"(1.7. 92).
They succeed in deceiving Duncan and as a result he is killed and his murder covered up.
Another example of things not appearing what they seem is when Ross tries to deceive
Macduff. When Ross meets with Macduff and Malcolm in England, he falsely reports that
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Macduff's family is resting peacefully. He later reveals that when he said they were resting
peacefully, he meant it in the sense that they were dead. Ross knew all along they were dead but
he did not want to have to tell Macduff.
Malcolm demonstrates, "foul being fair", when he deceives Macduff. Macduff tried to
get
desires. The first to deceive was the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Since then man has been
caught in the, "tangled web of deception". In the play MACBETH, by William Shakespeare,
deception is used several times and is the cause of death for the tragic hero Macbeth. It is
the medieval time period in Scotland, and witches have gained the trust of Macbeth by telling
him he will be king of Scotland. When Macbeth does become king, he completely relies
on the witches prophecies, and as a result many people get caught up in a web of deceit that leads
to his downfall and death.
The theme of deception is introduced early in the play by the witches when they say,
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair"(1.1.12). What this quote means is that things are not what they
appear. This proves true several times throughout the play, such as when Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth are planning to kill King Duncan. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth, "Look like the innocent
flower, But be the serpent under't"(1.5. 67-68). What she means is, Macbeth is to appear nice
and friendly to Duncan, but in reality have evil intentions for him. Macbeth echoes what Lady
Macbeth told him when he says, "False face must hide what the false heart doth know"(1.7. 92).
They succeed in deceiving Duncan and as a result he is killed and his murder covered up.
Another example of things not appearing what they seem is when Ross tries to deceive
Macduff. When Ross meets with Macduff and Malcolm in England, he falsely reports that
Page 2
Macduff's family is resting peacefully. He later reveals that when he said they were resting
peacefully, he meant it in the sense that they were dead. Ross knew all along they were dead but
he did not want to have to tell Macduff.
Malcolm demonstrates, "foul being fair", when he deceives Macduff. Macduff tried to
get