Macbeth - Imagery of appearance and reality.

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Imagery in Macbeth

Imagery Of Appearance and Reality

The theme of Appearance and Reality has been discussed already, e.g. we have mentioned that the play is at least partly based on the ides of deception. Examples of imagery here include Lady Macbeth's advice to Macbeth, "look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't" (Act I,Sc.v) and Macbeth's words, "False face must hide what the false heart doth know." In Act III,Sc.ii, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that they are, "Unsafe the while that we Must have our honours in these flattering streams, And make our faces wizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are." In Act I,Sc.iii, when he has been told that he is now Thane of Cawdor, he comments, "nothing is but what is not." After the murder of Duncan, Malcolm whispers to Donalbain, "To show as unfelt sorrow is an office Which the false man does easy." (Act II,Sc.iii) In the following scene Ross tells the Old Man of the strange upset in Nature, "...by the clock 'tis day And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp (i.e. the sun)." In the Ghost scene (Act III,Sc.iv) Lady Macbeth points out to Macbeth that