The theme of Appearance vs. Reality in Macbeth is apparent throughout the play. Shakespeare makes this clear by how he incorporates character’s feelings, subconscious motives, or whether the blood on their hands is real or not . Appearance vs. Reality is the way something is displayed (appearance), clashing with the way it actually is (reality). In Scene One, Act I, the Witches said, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” This statement introduces the idea of the schemes and treachery of appearances that will take place in the entire play.
Lady Macbeth is a cunning person. She tells Macbeth to “look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it”. Although she wants him to look guiltless, Lady Macbeth wants him to murder Duncan. Their home is also part of the deceit. It was warm and welcoming to Duncan so he did not suspect any wrongdoings. With the plans set, the killing of Duncan succeeded.
After the killing of Duncan, Lady Macbeth stated, “Go carry them and smear the sleepy grooms with blood” and “If he do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For is must seem their guilt.”, both in Scene two, Act II. She appears to be a tough and invulnerable to any guilt and feeling, but after Duncan’s murder, her guilt eats her up. The signs of her guilty conscience include sleep walking and constant washing of her hands. Her evident toughness is not at all what it seemed.
Macbeth is obsessed with the thoughts of murder that he starts to hallucinate. “"Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? I have thee not and yet I see thee still. Art thou not fatal vision, sensible To feelings as to sight? A dagger of the mind, a false creation I see thee yet, in form as palpable As this which now I draw. Mine eyes are made the fools o'the'other senses I see thee still, And, on thy blade on dudgeon, gouts of blood, Which was not so before." (Act II, Scene 1) He reaches for the imaginary dagger but in reality he can’t grasp it. He realizes...