Just like optical illusions things aren’t what they appear to be. People say you have to “see it to believe it,” but sometimes eyes aren’t telling the truth. In the Williams Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, appearance vs. reality, is used by Shakespeare to reinforce the theme of hallucinations. Macbeth thinking he sees a flying dagger before killing Banquo, Macbeth thinking he sees Banquo’s ghost sitting in a chair, and when Lady Macbeth thinks her hands are stained with blood, all give show an imagery of appearance vs. reality.
As Macbeth is walking towards King Duncan’s room to murder him Macbeth has the illusion that he is being lead by a dagger with the handle towards him (II. 1. 611-17). This illusion that Macbeth has could be guilt for the crime he is about to commit. Macbeth’s illusions are Appearance vs. Reality because Macbeth believes he sees something that is not actually there. In reality a real dagger is seen by both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth after Duncan’s murdered. Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to get rid of the bloody evidence (II. 2. 08-10). Macbeth was not the only one that had a hard time distinguishing what’s real and fake. Lady Macbeth starts to sleep walk and says more in her sleep than she should have. Lady Macbeth basically admits of the murders and crimes that has been committed. She thinks her hands are stained in blood and panics for the blood to disappear (V. 1. 2173-75). In reality the doctor doesn’t see any blood on her hands and is confused (V. 1. 2152). Lady Macbeth sees something that isn’t there just like Macbeth has done, once again.
After the death of Banquo took place, Macbeth thinks he sees another illusion. He believes he sees Banquo’s ghost during his banquet (III. 4. 1388-91). The audience thinks he only sees this because of a lack of sleep and his guest are simply confused. Lady Macbeth is worried and thinks that her husband is ill. She has everyone depart from so no suspicion would be brought about. What Macbeth has seen may have been true though. He sees the ghost once again when the witches answers all of his questions about the future. (IV. 1. 682-84) Macbeth isn’t the only one who sees it because the witched are the ones who show him. The ghost may have been real despised what the audience had believed. The imagery of Appearance vs. reality played an appealing role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Including Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s hallucinating illusions, The Thane of Cawdor wasn’t what it appeared to be to. Thane of Cawdor appears to be a gentleman but in reality he is a trader; he his eventually sentenced to death. These are the main memorable appearance vs. reality imageries in Macbeth.
