Fair Is Foul and Foul Is Fair

A baby, they are so cute and small when they are born. They can bring joy to anyone’s life. Once that baby gets home and gets comfortable, they become a nightmare. It can keep the whole family up all night crying, and don’t forget changing the diapers! At first babies seem fair, but after a while, it becomes foul. Just the opposite, picture a pineapple. On the outside they look so foul and disgusting, but really they are sweet and succulent. Many things in life may appear foul on the outside, but they really are fair on the inside. There are many examples of fair is foul throughout the play of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. First, Macbeth makes a speech about Duncan and he comes off very fair. Second, Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to kill Duncan so he can be king. Third, Macbeth comes off as very fair to the king, but really Macbeth is preparing to kill him. Fourth, After Macbeth killed Duncan, knew he would never be the same person, but he had to appear fair to everyone so he wasn’t blamed for the killing. Finally, Macbeth appeared fair to all of his guests at his party, but he was really having Banquo killed at that very minute.

To start with, after the Thane of Cawdor was killed, Macbeth made a speech about Duncan. He made the speech come off very fair and flowery, but in reality, it was foul. He wanted Duncan to realize that he was a good man, and that he deserved to be king some day. He wanted everyone to like him and for him to be trusted by all. “Your Highness’ part/ Is to receive our duties; and our duties/ Are to your throne and state, children and servants, / Which do but what they should, by doing every thing/ Safe toward your love and honor” (1.4.23-28). Macbeth was acting fair, but he was really foul.

Lady Macbeth wanted Macbeth to be king, more than Macbeth even wanted to be king. She wanted Macbeth to kill Duncan. She believed in the witches’ prophesies and thought they must be true. She would do anything she could to become queen. That’s why she told Macbeth to:

…beguile the time,

Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,

Your hand, your tongue. Look like the innocent flower,

But be the serpent under ‘t. (1.4.58-61)

Duncan was staying at their home. Lady Macbeth told him that he could look like a flower and welcome Duncan into their home and have a wonderful party, but really be foul and kill him.

Macbeth has Duncan in his home as a guest, and he is preparing to kill him. He wanted to come off as very happy to have the king in his home, but really he is preparing to kill him. He wants to be king, but he doesn’t want to have to kill him. “... mock the time with fairest show; / False face must hide what the false heart doth know” (1.7.81-82) He feels ashamed of what he has done. He appears fair to everyone at the party, but really he is foul and just killed the king.

After Macbeth killed Duncan, he knew that he wasn’t the same person. He was a changed man after he killed him. He knew that after Duncan was dead his chances for becoming king were even closer now. The only thing that bothered to him was having to kill his own family to get it. He wasn’t usually like that. He still wanted to appear fair to everyone, but he was really foul.

“Sleep no more! / Macbeth does murder sleep,’ the innocent sleep,

Sleep that knits up the raveled slave of care,

The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath,

Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,

Chief nourisher in life’s feast-- (2.2.35-40)

He would never be the same person, just for a title.

Finally, Macbeth thought that Banquo had figured out who killed Duncan. He had to trick some men to go and kill Banquo and his son