The Shakespearean play Macbeth, is full of paradoxes and things are seldom what they seem. The theme of ambiguity and double meaning is played upon throughout the play, starting with the witch's prophecies. Many characters in the play also show good and evil qualities that become more evident as the play progresses. In addition, the theme of what is appearance and what is reality is also used throughout the play. These areas combined clearly reinforce the theme of good vs. evil and show that things are rarely what they seem to be.

The witches prophecies are paradoxes and have double meanings. This is clearly evident when Banquo receives the three predictions from the witches. In act 1 scene 3, the witches tell Banquo that he will be "Lesser than Macbeth, and greater / Not so happy, yet much happier / Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none"(I, iii, 68-70). The witches prophecies are contradictions with each other and have double meanings. For example, Banquo won't be king but he will father a long line of kings and Macbeth as king should be far happier than Banquo but Banquo is inwardly happier than Macbeth because he has a free conscience. These parad

After the appearance of Banquo's ghost, Macbeth seeks the witches for a second encounter which again is full of paradoxical predictions. The second apparition informs him that "for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." (IV, I, 86-87) and the third apparition informs him that "Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until / Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him" (IV, I, 100-102). Macbeth believes that he is invincible but the paradox of the first apparition is that Macduff isn't technically born of

Throughout the whole play, fair appearances hide foul realities. King Duncan put it best when he said "There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face" (I, iv, 11-12). In addition, the theme of paradox and ambiguity were used numerous times, specifically in the characters and the witches prophecies. In conclusion, the idea of "fair is foul, and foul is fair" has many possible meanings and can be analyzed forever, but one thing is for certain and that is paradoxes add confusion, uncertainty and mystery to this masterpiece.

The theme of what is appearance and what is reality is played upon throughout the play. This idea is first used with the witches "fair is foul, and foul is fair" (I, i, 11) chant where they imply that something's outside appearance is inwardly the opposite. This is an obvious reference to Macbeth's character which we see changes from a noble one to a dishonourable one. Macbeth was on the turning point of having a "fair" life by becoming the Thane of Cawdor; but instead he

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Approximate Word count = 1052
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)