"Fair is foul and foul is fair/Hover through the fog and filthy air."
Act 1 Sc1 l. 12
This quotation is probably going to turn into the most overused example in the entire book. That is for good reason. The Weird Sisters are saying that bad things are going to happen to good things and that foul play will be involved. This foreshadows the killing of Duncan and the unrighteous MacBeth becoming king. Duncan is a fair man and very kind, and the foul MacBeth decides to kill him for personal gain. He is practically rewarded with the high position of king, which would be considered fair. "Foul is fair" can also be thought to mean that doing bad things for personal gain isn't necessarily that awful.
The fog and filthy air are an ominous symbol for the horrible things that are about to happen. The fog symbolizes moral ambiguity and clouded judgement. The filthy air is the stench of wrongdoing and the cruelty that lingers. MacBeth is told that he will become king, and his desire for power fogs his judgement and makes him commit treason. The hovering is a symbol for MacBeth trying to cover his tracks and making sure that no one finds out that he committed regicide. He hovers through thicker and thicker fog as he kills Banquo and attempts to murder Banquo's son. He doesn't know what to do anymore, and his judgement is completely clouded by his desire for power and terrible deeds.
Reading Times
Glass, Ellen Hopkins
Tues- 45 mins
Wed-30 mins
Thurs- 15 mins
MacBeth Review
Sun- 15 mins
Mon- 30 mins
taking it all down to symbolism and showing related topics. Cool. that line is kind of like the overall gist of the book.
ReplyDeleteSienna, these are excellent interpretations of these quotes. You do a great job focusing on symbolism, which is a key piece of the writing of Macbeth.
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