Supernatural in Shakespeares Macbeth - Beyond the Fair and Foul Essay

More to Macbeth than Fair and Foul The statement Fair is lousy, and foul is carnival does not thoroughly express the many 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 mean(a)(I.i.12) only for Macbeth to repeat 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, superstar 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 the 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 weakness 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 necessitate the steps necessary to achieve them? Macbeth knows that the latter choice will involve the murder of his virtuous king Duncan, but even this is not enough to incline him to bide his time. After urging 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. In 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 intensity Online American Edition. Online Edition. Online. Netzero. 26 Mar 2002. William Shakespeare. BBC Homepage. Online. Available <http//www.bbc.co.uk/history/culture/shakespeare.shtml>. 26 Mar. 2002.