Macbeth Group
Question:
roknstunersh...
Student
High School - 12th Grade
Please interpret: "Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false heart doth know" (1.7.94-95).
How can I illustrate the symbols in this passage or draw the scene? How does the theme run through the rest of the play?
Answers:
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sagetrieb Teacher
DoctoratePosted by sagetrieb on Tuesday January 8, 2008 at 4:57 PMThis quote pertains to the theme that appearances do not necessarily carry the truth, that they can in fact cover, or hide, the truth, or the reality of a situation. Macbeth says this to his wife after she finally convinces him to murder Duncan (1.7.94-95). In paraphrasing these lines, we understand that Macbeth tells his wife to pretend that all is well, and in this way deceive (or mock) the real situation (the time). She must look as if she is happy and a good hostess (false face) even though they both know in their hearts that they are liars and murderers (false heart must know). The theme of appearance vs reality presents itself through the way in which the witches equivocate information, giving Macbeth enough to tempt him to commit murder but not enough to warn him of the results, and we see it, too, when Macbeth imagines he sees a dagger in front of him before he kills Duncan. He calls it “a dagger of the mind, a false creation / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain (2.1.50-51), meaning he is imagining it out of his anxiety over the deed he is about to commit. As for showing this symbolically, you could create a mask that shows a happy expression, putting it over your own face, which you would show to look mean. Similarly, you could create a puppet with a monstrous face, then make a mask for it to make it look like an angel.
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amy-lepore Teacher
High School - 12th GradePosted by amy-lepore on Wednesday January 9, 2008 at 5:43 AMThe primary theme here is the wonderful illusion vs. reality theme. It's rampant throughout this play...the witches who don't seem real to Macbeth since they appear and disappear so quickly, that they have "beards" so they might be men although they seem like women to Macbeth, the fact that Lady Macbeth tells him to "look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it", the fact that the witches give Macbeth the truth but he hears only what he wants to believe (none born of woman can harm Macbeth--he does not consider caesarean section births), the army which conceals its advancement by carrying tree branches and appears to be an entire forest marching up the hill.
As far as drawing this scene, how about using a Poker game? All the players at the table are definitely "bluffing"...putting on their false faces so that others at the table will not be able to discern what they are truly thinking and what cards they are actually holding in their hands.
The idea is to use masks or sunglasses to conceal the true thoughts and feelings.
Good Luck!
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