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In Act 1, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's "Macbeth," the witches famously declare, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair." This paradoxical statement reflects the theme of moral ambiguity and the deceptive nature of appearances throughout the play. The witches' proclamation sets the tone for the play's exploration of the blurred lines between good and evil, beauty and ugliness, and truth and falsehood. Macbeth himself later echoes this sentiment in Act 1, Scene 3, when he says, "So foul and fair a day I have not seen," suggesting his own internal conflict and the twisted nature of his reality.

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How does Lady Macbeth's attitude fulfill the witches' fair and foul prediction from Act I scene i?

She pushes MacBeth to kill the king and by doing so fulfills the witches predictions.


Why does fair is foul or foul is fair is the theme of play?

Macbeth.


What does so foul and fair a day i have not seen mean in Macbeth?

What is significant is that it echoes the witches' line "Fair is foul and foul is fair; hover through the fog and filthy air", thus connecting Macbeth with the witches and showing how they anticipate what will happen to him. And of course both quotations talk about the moral ambiguity of what is and what seems to be in the play.


Who or what is it about when the witches say fair is foul and foul is fair in the book of Macbeth?

That's a line from Macbeth. Yes, the witches in Macbeth say the line "Fair is foul and foul is fair" in Act 1 Scene 1. The whole line is "Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air". Why do they say it? Who knows, it's a witchy thing. But it does help set up a theme of moral ambiguity, of appearance not matching reality, which is a theme throughout the play. Some have argued that it is essentially what the play is all about.


Fair is foul and foul is fair Hover through the fog and filthy air?

The saying, 'Fair is foul and foul is fair,' carries the general meaning of 'things are all mixed up.' It is typically used to denote a situation where conventional moral rules or guidelines are being used or interpreted in a contradictory or even immoral way.

Related Questions

What are the origins of 'fair is foul and foul is fair'?

Uttered by the three witches in 'Macbeth'.


What is the first sound heard in the play Macbeth?

The first sound typically heard in the play Macbeth is the three witches chanting, "Fair is foul and foul is fair."


How does the very first line Macbeth speaks echo one of the paradoxical lines spoken by the witches in the very first scene of the play?

In Macbeth's first line, he echoes the witches' paradoxical line "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" by stating "So foul and fair a day I have not seen." This creates a parallel between Macbeth's fate and the supernatural forces at play, suggesting that what seems fair or good may actually be foul or evil, and vice versa. The use of paradox in both instances foreshadows the themes of deception and moral ambiguity throughout the play.


How does Lady Macbeth's attitude fulfill the witches' fair and foul prediction from Act I scene i?

She pushes MacBeth to kill the king and by doing so fulfills the witches predictions.


Who says fair is foul and foul is fair?

it is a metaphore saying that everything that is foul (bad) was meant to be taht way. and everything that is fair is meant to be decieving and foul


Why does fair is foul or foul is fair is the theme of play?

Macbeth.


What does so foul and fair a day i have not seen mean in Macbeth?

What is significant is that it echoes the witches' line "Fair is foul and foul is fair; hover through the fog and filthy air", thus connecting Macbeth with the witches and showing how they anticipate what will happen to him. And of course both quotations talk about the moral ambiguity of what is and what seems to be in the play.


What play is this qoute from of shakespeares Fair is foul and foul is fair?

Macbeth


What event in Macbeth illustrates the recurring motif of fair is foul and foul is fair?

It is Macbeth kills the current king and is rewarded by being named king himself. Just took test.


Who sayed the fair is foul and the foul is fair?

The three witches recite this line at the beginning of the play (Macbeth reiterates it later in the play). They also recite "toil and trouble, Cauldron boil and cauldron bubble."


What are some paradoxe in Macbeth?

There is a superstition that saying "Macbeth" out loud inside a theater will bring bad luck. This is derived from the story that Shakespeare used actual witches' incantations in the script, and so the witches got mad at him and cursed the play. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are instead called "M" and "Lady M," respectively.


What is an example of foreshadowing in Macbeth?

Ironic foreshadowing on how it will lead Macbeth and lady Macbeth, insane due to guilt; Macbeth - when he starts to see Banquos ghost Lady Macbeth- Sleepwalking in act 5 moreover kills herself