Macbeth Group

Question:


arma
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What is the meaning of this quote from "Macbeth": "False face must hide what the false heart doth know"

This quote is located in Macbeth's Act 1 at the end of scene 7 . thank you!

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Posted by arma on Monday November 12, 2007 at 9:59 AM and tagged with act 1 scene 7, macbeth, quote.

Answers:


  1. cmcqueeney Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have just gone over the plan to kill Duncan. Now, they have to go about business as usual without letting anyone know about their plan.  The quote means that Macbeth will put on a 'false face' or pretend to look happy and normal to cover for his 'false heart' or heart that is betraying his king. 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/

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    Posted by cmcqueeney on Monday November 12, 2007 at 10:08 AM


  2. amy-lepore Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    This quote falls nicely into the "appearance vs reality" theme where Macbeth knows what he will do to further his ambition and become King, but he can not show this to the world or he will be called on it. 

    "False face must hide"--put on an act and pretend to be something you are not (a mask of sorts)

    "what a false heart doth know"--his heart knows the truth of who he is and what he is planning

     

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    Posted by amy-lepore on Monday November 12, 2007 at 1:41 PM

  3. johannsebastianfu
    johannsebastianfu Teacher
    Middle School

    Away, and mock the time with fairest show.

    False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

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    Posted by johannsebastianfu on Monday November 24, 2008 at 10:58 AM

  4. forever018
    forever018 Student
    High School - 12th Grade

    We know from the play that Macbeth has an easily read face, so he must cover up his guilt with a happy face (false face), and pretend like everything is alright(false heart).

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    Posted by forever018 on Friday May 1, 2009 at 6:44 AM