This powerful quote
summarises an important theme in this : appearances vs. reality, and how characters are often
taken in by appearances and therefore ignore the true reality of other characters and
situations. Consider for examplescene 6, whenarrives at the 's castle and makes the following
comment:
This castle hath a pleasant seat; the
air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses.
This comment is deliberately ironic for a number of reasons.
Firstly, Shakespeare juxtaposes Duncan's comments with the end of Act I scene 5, when Ladyand
Macbeth are discussing how to kill Duncan. That Duncan describes the place where he will be
eventually killed as "pleasant" is a perfect example of how the castle of the Macbeths
appears like the "innocent flower" whilst in reality being the serpent that will end
in Duncan's death. This remark of Duncan's is further ironic because of the way in which he has
shown himself to be such a bad judge of character. Note the following comment Duncan makes in
Act I scene 4 about the former Thane of Cawdor who betrayed him and has now been
executed:
There's no art
To find the mind's
construction in the face:
He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute
trust.
Duncan's failing is his willingness to trust
characters, such as Macbeth, who then later go on to betray him. Duncan's own failings and the
way in which both the Macbeth's play the role of benificent loyal hosts whilst secretly plotting
to kill him are therefore a major example of the quotesays.
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