Deception is a major relational transgression that often leads to feelings of betrayal and distrust between people. Many expect those around them, whether it be friends, partners, or strangers, to be truthful most of the time as part of societal ideals. Shakespeare “uses it [deception] deftly to recreate and underscore the political and social ramifications of the irregularities and abnormalities of human mind which conversely reflect a parallel world of insanity in the outer world marred by distrust and deceit”(Bali). The theme of deception can be found in numerous forms within Shakespeare's Macbeth, and in all cases it leads to the death and downfall of a character.
Lady Macbeth is a character that deceives in many ways. She deceives her…show more content… As a women who only wants power she appears to be willing to do anything to get that, “unsex me here,/And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full/Of direst cruelty”(Shakespeare.1.5.44-46). Lady Macbeth wishes to lose her feminine qualities and be invested with masculine resolve. After Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth of her choice to kill king Duncan, she is unable to handle the consequences of her decisions; fainting when the body of the late king is discovered. Lady Macbeth soon loses her spirit, and disappears into the margins of the play and becomes the kind of weak, feeble figure that is excluded from the decisions now made by her husband alone. Lady Macbeth deceives herself into thinking that murder is right and that she has enough ‘manhood’ for both herself and Macbeth. Though as the play continues the guilt increases within Lady Macbeth, forcing her into the depths…show more content… He appears completely loyal to king Duncan, though is really harbouring murderous thoughts; “When we have mark’d with blood those sleepy two/Of his own chamber, and used their very daggers,/That they have done’t”(1.7.83-85). Macbeth continues to conceal his true nature and appear as he always has so no one becomes suspicious of his actions. From here on in the play Macbeth is a continuously growing presence of evil as Lady Macbeth spurs him on to commit murderous action. Eventually though, Macbeth no longer doubts his ability to kill and does whatever he deems necessary to keep the throne. Though the witches do not lie as Macbeth does, they take advantage of his power hungry mindset in order to control