Liam Gibbs

Ms. Skirtich
English 12
18 December 2017
The Power of Deception
Throughout ‘Macbeth” deception is demonstrated throughout the play in all forms.

Shakespeare, a renaissance writer who, developed tragedies which ignited his writing career.

This play takes place in Scotland and has a strong sense of witchcraft in it. This theme of

witchcraft plays into King James favor which may have been an enticing advantage for

Shakespeare to write it. Shakespeare incorporates deception in” Macbeth” through Macbeth,

Lady Macbeth, and the weird sisters.

Shakespeare incorporates deception through Macbeth deceiving Banquo in his motives.

In Act II Banquo asks Macbeth if he dwells on the prophecies of the weird sisters because he

has. “I think of them not” (II.i.22). We know this is untrue because Macbeth is planning on

acting on the prophecy and killing King Duncan. He is deliberately deceiving Banquo so when

King Duncan is dead Banquo will not suspect Macbeth. Macbeth also deceives Banquo when he

is speaking with him before his loyalty dinner. He asks if fleance will be with him for the walk

and that he wants him to come to the loyalty dinner tonight. “Tonight we hold a solemn supper,

sir, And I’ll request your presence” (III.i.15-16). Macbeth has no intention of wanting Banquo at

his loyalty dinner. He does not expect this because his plan is to kill Banquo and fleance out on

their walk. He deceives Banquo in thinking there is no foul play and Macbeth is excited to see

him at the dinner but in reality he wants Banquo and Fleance dead.

Secondly, Shakespeare incorporates deception through Lady Macbeth by her deception of

Duncan and Macbeth. When King Duncan comes to visit the castle where Lady Macbeth and
Macbeth live Lady Macbeth is extremely kind and welcoming. “All our service in every point

twice done and then done double” (I. vii. 14-15). She is saying that she has prepared for Duncan

and will do everything to assure he has a nice stay. This deceives Duncan and the Kinsmen

because in reality she is plotting to kill Duncan. She wants power and wants to take Duncan out

even though she is acting kind and nice to him. She also deceives Macbeth by acting brutal and

that she wants Duncan’s blood and she will stop at nothing to gain power. “Had he not resembled

My father as he slept, I had done ’t” (II.ii.12-13). However, she has a soft side because she said

she herself cannot kill Duncan because he looks like her father. She deceives him in thinking that

she is ruthless when she is really not.

Lastly, Shakespeare incorporates deception through the weird sisters by the direct

sabotage of Macbeth. When Macbeth is King he begins to feel scared and fear he will be killed

and overthrown. He seeks out the weird sisters to understand what is happening therefore, they

give him prophecies with the sole purpose of tricking and deceiving him. “The pow’r of man, for

none of women born shall harm Macbeth” (IV.i.80-81). This means no man born of a woman

shall harm Macbeth. Therefore Macbeth thinks no man can harm him because every man is born

of a woman. However, they did not tell him Macbeth was born of a C-section. “Great Birnam

wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him” (IV.i.93-94). This means Macbeth will not

be harmed until the forest moves and attacks him. Macbeth thinks this could not possibly happen

along with a man being not born of a woman. The witches deceive him into thinking he is safe

from being attacked.

Overall Shakespeare incorporated deception through the characters of Macbeth, Lady

Macbeth, and the weird sisters. Deception is used constantly through the book to trick and
manipulate different characters. People are constantly trying to manipulate each other for

personal gain. This is used over and over again and sets the precedent for the whole play.