It is quite possible that Shakespeare wrote his play especially with the King in mind. James was believed to be a descendant of the fair and noble Banquo and he also had an interest in the supernatural. James also wrote two books: “Basilicon Doron,” which was about being a good king, and another titled “Demonology”.

With the element of the supernatural and the issue of being a fair king, Shakespeare based this spectacular masterpiece around a series of events that occurred in 1040, but with a different plot. This pleased King James greatly.

The play begins on a blasted heath with three witches. The setting and tetrameter chant establishes the supernatural pathos ending with the words, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. (Act 1.1.11-12)” This paradox is a major theme threaded throughout the body of the play and shows: the irreconcilable distinction between good and evil, the chaos and disruption of the natural order and also that, not everything appears as it seems.

Lying in the witches’ chant is the first

In the final scenes we see Macbeth realise that the witches’ prophecies have come true, but were not what they appeared to be. Believing him self to be immortal, Macbeth hears that “Macduff was from his mother’s womb Untimely ripped, (Act 5.8.15)” and not “one of woman born. (Act 5.8.13)”

Lady Macbeth greets Duncan with consummate hypocrisy; hiding her foul intentions underneath an appearance of a fair and loyal subject. Duncan is completely taken in;

Referring to Lucifer, Malcolm used this example to mean that: one who looks like an angel could be a devil, which does not mean that every angel is a devil.

Is smothered in surmise, and nothing is

For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires!

Lady Macbeth then leads him into her battlements, where the foul plan is put into action.

Some topics in this essay:
Macbeth Act, Lady Macbeth, Malcolm Donalbain, Lucifer Malcolm, King James, England Shakespeare, Cawdor Macbeth, Prince Cumberland, Malcolm Macduff’s, Malcolm Duncan’s, lady macbeth, foul fair, appearance fair, appearance fair loyal, false appearances, witches’ prophecies, foul character, macbeth’s conscience, foul intentions, foul foul fair, defeated enemy, angel devil,