Fair is foul and foul is fair (Act 1.1.11-12). This is a famous line and also one of the major themes in Macbeth.
Fair is Foul
“Fair is foul and foul is fair” (Act 1.1.11-12). This is a famous line and also one of the major themes in Macbeth. It has many meanings and can be analyzed forever. One of the meaning is things are not appear as they seem. There are many events supporting this theme in the book and also in reality. How to define “good” and “bad”? Everyone has his or her own judgment and there’s no model answer for it. It depends on the point of view and position of the person. There’s a direction for what is fair and what is foul while there’s a large grey area in between, no definite border can be seen.
This phrase introduces itself within the first act of the book during the first scene, the very beginning. The words "fair is foul" are also used by Macbeth when he first encounters the witches. Later on in the book, almost all of the main characters experience this theme. For Duncan, he said “There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face” (Act 1.4.11-12). He means no one can read someone else’s heart by reading his or her face as the traitor of Scotland also has a loyal face. The book implies that something's outside appearance is inwardly the opposite. Like Macbeth, the battle hero, he seems loyal but he has a thought of murdering Duncan inside their mind. Another good example is Lady Macbeth. She appears as a woman figure but she amazed the readers by upside-down the stereotypes that they had for women. She encourages her husband to kill the King and even pray to the god for “unsex” her. Her husband even said that she, having such a maculating attitude, should give birth to male children only.
