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"Macbeth" is full of unusual, shifting ambiguous words: it really is a play in which, as Macbeth himself says,
...Nothing is
But what is not
It's one of Shakespeare's shortest plays and yet each line is packed with meaning which both looks forward and backward in the play.
You're right to pick up on "Fair is foul..." and there's lots of things to say about it. Like the quote I've given above, it's very difficult to tease out the precise sense: it's sort of self-cancelling (or self-affirming, depending on whether you think "fair" is both "fair" and "foul", or neither...), Macbeth currently appears "fair" (he's won "golden opinions" from all kinds of people") but will soon become "foul". The witches' prophecies sound "so fair", as Banquo says, but have another "foul" undercurrent.
"Fair", as Banquo's line "Why do you start and seem to fear / things that do sound so fair" points up, is also a close relation of "fear", and aural echoes in lines are also an important part of the paradoxical, juxtapositions of this play. Look at the way "I'll do and I'll do and I'll do" becomes Macbeth's "If 'twere done when tis done then 'twere best it were done quickly".
It's a play where you never know whether Macbeth is acting freely, or under evil influence. You never quite know what anything means. Nothing is - but what is not.
- "Fair is foul, and foul is fair"- witches paradox
- "Lesser than Macbeth, and greater." - witches paradox
- "So foul and fair a day I have not seen." - Macbeth paradox
- "And yet I would not sleep: Merciful powers, restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives way" - Macbeth paradox
- "In them nature's copy's not eterne" - Banquo paradox
- "Time and the hour runs through the roughest day." - Macbeth paradox
- "When the battle's lost and won." - witches paradox
- "All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!" - Macbeth's prophecy paradox
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What examples of figurative language in Macbeth?
ACT 3 when Macbeth says: "O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!" hope that helped :)
How many murderers are there in act 3 scene 3 in Macbeth?
There are two murderers in act 3 scene 3 in Macbeth.
How has Macbeth changed in this act from Acts 1 and 2?
Lady Macbeth totally sucks Macbeth's dick right now.
What is the theme of act 3 in Macbeth?
be careful what you ask for.
What is Macbeth's suspicion in act 3?
In Act 3 of Macbeth, Macbeth becomes suspicious that Banquo poses a threat to his throne. He worries that Banquo's descendants will inherit the crown, as the witches prophesied. This suspicion leads Macbeth to plot Banquo's murder.
What mood is Macbeth and lady Macbeth in act 3 scene 1?
In Act 3, Scene 1 of Macbeth, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth exhibit a mixture of apprehension, ambition, and a growing sense of paranoia. Macbeth is increasingly consumed by his guilt and fear of losing power, while Lady Macbeth struggles to maintain control over their destiny despite their mounting troubles.
Who killed banquo in Macbeth?
Act 3 Scene 3 :)
What are examples of dramatic irony in act 3 of Macbeth?
One example of dramatic irony in Act 3 of Macbeth is when Macbeth decides to have Banquo and Fleance killed in order to secure his throne, without knowing that Fleance will escape. Another example is when Macbeth expresses concerns about not being able to enjoy his newfound power, unknowingly foreshadowing his descent into paranoia and guilt.
Who was the gatekeeper in Macbeth?
The gatekeeper in Macbeth is a minor character who appears in Act 2, Scene 3. He is responsible for opening the gate of Macbeth's castle at Dunsinane during the night Macbeth murders King Duncan. The gatekeeper serves as a comic relief character in the play.
Is act 3 what is Macbeth doing?
In Act 3 of "Macbeth," Macbeth is focused on consolidating his power and eliminating threats to his rule. He plans the murders of Banquo and Macduff's family to secure his position as king and prevent any challenges to his authority. Macbeth's actions become increasingly tyrannical as he succumbs to his ambition and paranoia.
Which act of Macbeth contains the climax?
The climax of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" occurs in Act 3, Scene 4, when Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost at the banquet he is hosting. This event marks a turning point in the play, as Macbeth's guilt and paranoia begin to consume him.
Who or what is Macbeth's worst enemy in Act 3?
In Act 3 of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth," Macbeth's worst enemy is arguably Banquo. Macbeth sees Banquo as a threat to his newly gained power because of the witches' prophecy that Banquo's descendants will inherit the throne. Macbeth becomes obsessed with eliminating this potential threat, leading to Banquo's murder.
