Ambiguity & Equivocation in Macbeth

In William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, the theme of ambiguity and equivocation stands our quite clearly. The Oxford definition of equivocation is: ‘use of ambiguity to conceal the truth’. Macbeth's voluntary misinterpretation of the ambiguity and equivocation of the witches relates to the play's theme. After the first of the witches' prophecies comes true, Macbeth begins to believe in their truth. However, he also believes that the prophecies must all lead to his enrichment and empowerment. The use of equivocation in Macbeth also incorporates a sub-theme of appearance versus reality and the powers of evil. In the end, he twists the witches' words to fit his own purposes, ignoring the possibility that the prophecies might have other, less fortunate meanings (equivocation). This voluntary misinterpretation, committed in pursuit of power and ambition, leads Macbeth to perform certain actions which result in the death of the king, his own friends, Lady Macbeth’s madness and suicide and eventually his own death.

From the beginning of the play, Macbeth desires great power. After he is made Thane of Cawdor after his ‘heroic loyalty to the king and his country’, he realizes that the predictions made by the witches were right, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane Of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane Of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” He immediately begins to consider the other part of their prophecy and what is meant by it. "My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical…” Macbeth also contemplates the predictions made about Banquo, “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. / Not so happy, yet much happier. / Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.” and immediately, his attitude towards his best friend changes as he has become somewhat of a threat to him. This change of attitude shows the effects of the equivocate predictions which are made.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth use ambiguity and equivocation in pursuit of power for their own benefits and advantages. “All our service / In every point twice done, and then done double, / Were poor and single business to contend / Against those honors deep and broad wherewith / Your Majesty loads our house.” With this announcement, Lady Macbeth states that if all she could do in the kings service had been done four times over, it still would not do honor to him. The ambiguous nature of this statement is that it is true even though she has no intention to honor the king and offer her hospitable services to him. She gains the king's trust and goodwill through ambiguous honesty even though she plans to help Macbeth murder him. Macbeth issues a similar statement in the king's presence; he tells him "I'll be myself the harbinger, and make joyful the hearing of my wife with your approach." His statement, like Lady Macbeth's, is technically true, but bears murderous intent. These irregular actions prove the theme correct; Macbeth and Lady Macbeth use ambiguity to trick the king into thinking he is safe but then abuse his trust and kill him in his sleep.

At this point, Macbeth's object is to remain on the throne and retain his newfound power by any means necessary. Remembering the words of the witches, "Thou [Banquo] shall get kings, though thou be none," Macbeth decides to murder Banquo and his son Fleance. Believing that he has disposed of the current threat to the throne, Macbeth visits the witches in an attempt to ascertain who else he should kill in order to retain his power. Macbeth now has no uncertainties about murder, and his better nature has been suppressed in the pursuit of power and his driving ambition. Much of this is due to his misinterpretation of the witches' prophecies. The prophecies of the witches and the apparitions which now appear to Macbeth become warnings to him, but he chooses to hear