Supernatural in Shakespeares Macbeth - Beyond the Fair and Foul Essay

More to Macbeth than Fair and Foul The statement Fair is pass away, and foul is fair does not thoroughly extend the existencey themes of Shakespeares Macbeth. The first time this statement occurs is very early in the play, when the witches chant the exact line Fair is foul, and foul is fair(I.i.12) only for Macbeth to recapitulate it himself two scenes later. This repetition of the lines shows that the characters themselves believe that there are many foul events taking place. Firstly, one can watch the fair Macbeth degrading into a foul inhuman monster. Secondly, the witches may be contrasted to Macbeth to demonstrate the real foulness in these characters. Thirdly, it can be shown that there is simply no fairness existing in Macbeth. Lastly, one can see that there are too many themes in Shakespeares Macbeth to be summed up in one line. Macbeth, in the beginning, is a man of valor, honor and nobility. With his loyal traits he helps maintain Scotlands stability. Macbeth, on th e outside, seems to be the fairest man in all of Scotland however such is not true. Under the cloaking shadows of his skin, Macbeth hides his one helplessness ambition. His wife realizes his ambition and stirs him to act on it. Macbeth struggles with a choice should he let the witches prophecies realize themselves, or should he take the steps necessary to get hold of them? Macbeth knows that the latter choice will involve the murder of his virtuous king Duncan, but even this is not enough to convince him to bide his time. After branch line from his wife, he chooses the latter and murders his king. In doing so, Macbeth disrobes himself of all that is good in the human soul kindness, courage, honor and love. Macbeth becomes so obses... ... Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1999. 126-35. Cotton, N. Witches and Magic in Macbeth. Shakespeare Quarterly. 38, 1987 320-326. Kinney, Arthur F. ed. William Shakpespeare the Tragedies. Boston Hall and Company, 1985. Muir, Kenneth. Introduction. I n Macbeth. Ed. Kenneth Muir. New York Routledge, 1992. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. Elements of Literature. Sixth ed. Austin Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1997. Stallybrass, Peter. Macbeth and Witchcraft. In Focus on Macbeth. Ed. John Russell Brown. Boston Routledge, 1982. Wadsworth, Frank W. Shakespeare, William. World Book Online American Edition. Online Edition. Online. Netzero. 26 cocker 2002. William Shakespeare. BBC Homepage. Online. Available <http//www.bbc.co.uk/history/culture/shakespeare.shtml>. 26 Mar. 2002.