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  5. Appearance and reality

Appearance and reality

Appearance and reality: the full guide is being written.

Until it is ready, here is the theme's shape through the text and its key quotes from the Summary.

The shape of the theme

Where it rises and falls

Central in 7 of the 28 scenes; it runs strongest in Act 1 and quietest in Act 5.

Act 1Act 2Act 3Act 4Act 5AbsentTouched onPresentCentralQuotesPast paper1234567123412345612312345678Use the arrow keys to move between scenes. Enter opens the scene in the Summary.
  • Quotes on the theme (a bigger dot, more quotes)
  • Set as an AQA extract

Use this in the exam: find your extract's scene, then follow the theme forward. Tracing how it rises, falls or changes from the extract to the whole play is what the top level rewards.

Key quotes

14 quotes, in the order they come in the text. Point at or tap an underlined word for its note.

Fair is foul, and foul is fair;1 / Hover through the fog and filthy air.2

The Witches to each other (chanted together)

Act 1, Scene 1, line 12

3Trochaic tetrameter4Grade 9 insight
Appearance and realityFate and the supernaturalNature and order

There's no art1 / To find the mind's construction2 in the face.3

Duncan to Malcolm

Act 1, Scene 4, line 13

4A flaw in the good king?
Appearance and realityKingship and tyranny

Look like th' innocent flower,1 / But be the serpent2 under 't.

Lady Macbeth to Macbeth

Act 1, Scene 5, line 76

3The Gunpowder Plot4Serpent motif5Grade 9 insight
Appearance and realityFate and the supernaturalKingship and tyranny

This castle hath a pleasant1 seat.2 The air / Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself3 / Unto our gentle senses.

Duncan to Banquo and his lords

Act 1, Scene 6, line 1

4Fair air, foul air
Appearance and realityKingship and tyrannyNature and order

This guest of summer,1 / The temple-haunting martlet,2 does approve, / By his loved mansionry, that the heaven's breath3 / Smells wooingly here.

Banquo to Duncan

Act 1, Scene 6, line 4

4Grade 9 insight
Appearance and realityNature and order

Away, and mock the time1 with fairest2 show. / False face3 must hide what the false heart doth know.

Macbeth to Lady Macbeth

Act 1, Scene 7, line 94

4Rhyming couplet5Grade 9 insight
Appearance and realityGuilt and conscience

I think not1 of them.

Macbeth to Banquo

Act 2, Scene 1, line 27

2Deception grows3Contrast
Appearance and realityFate and the supernaturalAmbition and power

Art thou not, fatal1 vision, sensible / To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but / A dagger of the mind,2 a false creation / Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?3

Macbeth to the dagger he sees (soliloquy)

Act 2, Scene 1, line 48

4Ambiguity5Grade 9 insight
Appearance and realityFate and the supernaturalGuilt and conscience

The sleeping and the dead / Are but as pictures.1 'Tis the eye of childhood2 / That fears a painted devil.3

Lady Macbeth to Macbeth

Act 2, Scene 2, line 69

Appearance and realityMasculinity and genderFate and the supernatural

Faith, here's an equivocator1 that could swear in both the scales against either scale, who committed treason enough for God's sake2 yet could not equivocate to heaven.3

Porter to the audience

Act 2, Scene 3, line 8

4Grade 9 insight
Appearance and realityKingship and tyrannyFate and the supernatural

'Twas a rough night.1

Macbeth to Lennox

Act 2, Scene 3, line 70

2What the silence hides3Too little, then too much
Appearance and realityGuilt and conscience

Woe, alas!1 / What, in our house?2

Lady Macbeth to Macduff and Banquo

Act 2, Scene 3, line 102

3Echo forward
Appearance and realityGuilt and conscience

Had I but died an hour before this chance,1 / I had lived a blessèd time; for from this instant / There's nothing serious in mortality.2 / All is but toys. Renown and grace is dead. / The wine of life is drawn,3 and the mere lees / Is left this vault to brag of.

Macbeth to the household

Act 2, Scene 3, line 107

4Grade 9 insight
Appearance and realityGuilt and conscienceKingship and tyranny

Help me hence,1 ho!

Lady Macbeth to the lords

Act 2, Scene 3, line 138

2Using the stereotype3Echo forward
Appearance and realityGuilt and conscienceMasculinity and gender
PreviousAmbition and powerNextNature and order

On this page

  • The shape of the theme
  • Key quotes