Equivocation in MacBeth
A false statement, or a statement intended to deceive someone is better known as a lie. A lie which tells half the truth is called equivocation. Of course, there are many different types of lies; there are lies which do not tell the truth, equivocation, lies of omission, and those "white" lies which do not hurt anyone. There are also many different reasons for telling a lie. Some might lie to cover the truth, others might lie because it became a habit to them when they were a young child. But why would someone use equivocation? Someone might use equivocation to allow the recipient to draw their own interpretation of the matter, as a result, causing them to make a hasty decision. To picture the difference between a lie and equivocation, let us use a mask and call it "LIE". A lie would be like covering up your face with that mask, so that no one can see the truth. But equivocation is like putting on only half the mask, to show only half the truth. In the Shakespearean play, Macbeth, wicked and evil witches deceive their victim, Macbeth, by equivocating his prophecies. As a result of this new "half-true" knowledge, Macbeth makes rash decisions that lead him to paranoia, grief, and his do
Macbeth then met the witches once again, and heard another set of prophecies. These new prophecies told him to beware of Macduff, that no man born of woman will harm him, and that he will not be vanquished until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Hill. In short time, Malcolm ordered that each of his men cut off branches of trees from Birnam Wood as a camouflage so MacBeth could not count how many men were really coming to attack him. Macbeth who has been relying on the assurance of the witches tells his men to leave the castle and attack. Lies, are told by many people to conceal truth, or to deceive. In Macbeth, the witches obscure the truth by using equivocation to lead Macbeth change his ways of thinking. If Macbeth knew the truth, his outcome would have been different. He would not have been plagued with paranoia, blood thirsty attacks of stress causing him to kill, the downfall of his reign, and him to loose the most precious thing that he loved, Lady Macbeth. The first set of prophecies the witches reveal to Macbeth, in act 1, scene 3, was that Macbeth is to become thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor and that he shall be king. They also said "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none." Macbeth was shocked when the first two prophecies came true. In act 1, scene 3 he spoke of his fears, saying "un
Some common words found in the essay are:
Theme Equivocation, King King's, MacBeth Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Birnam Wood, Macbeth Macbeth, Meanwhile Macduff, Dunsinane Hill, act 5, King Macbeth, lie lie, 1 scene 3, act 1 scene, 5 scene, lady macbeth, macbeth macbeth, rash decisions, relying assurance, set prophecies, born woman harm, act 5 scene, birnam wood, woman harm,
Approximate Word count = 897
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
