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False Face In Macbeth

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Bradley points out that here “Lady Macbeth asserts first that Macbeth proposed the murder to her, second that he did so at a time when there was no opportunity to attack Duncan, no ' adherence ' of ' time ' and ' place ', and third that he declared he would make an opportunity, and swore to carry out the murder.” (pg. 477). Once Lady Macbeth argues with this atop many other points of debate Macbeth then says “I am settled, and bend up Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false heart doth know” (Pg. 171; 1.7.80) sending his wife to distract the others both putting on a face that is only false to them, knowing in their hearts the act that they are about to …show more content…

The cracks in the Macbeth’s “false face” begin to show after the murder, focusing on the symbol of blood concerning which Macbeth exclaims “Will all great Neptune 's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas in incarnadine, Making the green one red.” (Pg. 183; 2.2.61). Macbeth recognizes the magnitude of his actions seeing that no matter how hard he may scrub there will always be a blood stain beneath the surface for having done such a terrible crime, something which will only build throughout the rest of the play. With this mindset, Macbeth becomes the one who takes the commanding role in the murder of Banquo, taking his own initiative by sending the murderers after his former friend and his son. It is no wonder then that after the confirmation of the murder of Banquo, the bloody apparition of his former friend coalesces upon his throne. Each time the ghost vanishes, Macbeth 's relief shows a man swinging from one state of mind to another, losing control of his reality as the “false face” that he uses begins to slip away with the guilt in his heart, and starts becoming that which his heart actually feels, as he had begun to act without debate with the murder of Banquo, immediately moving on to plotting against Macduff and murdering his entire

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