Phony Faces:
Think of a person you know who acts one way when he or she is with a group of people, but acts very differently when you’re with him or her in private. Describe how this person acts in public or private, and explain why you think he or she wears such a mask sometimes- why not be yourself at all times?
Act one contains many quotes that address the idea of false appearances. Find two quotes, put them into your own words, and explain how they relate to the theme of appearance v. reality.
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Yeah, I definitally know friends that where a mask, and quite frankly, it gets kind of old. I try not to associate my self with those people, but I definitally have a few friends that can put on a show, depending on the audience. Some of the friends I notice the most, is that, when I am with her one on one, she is so fun and we have so much to talk about. But when someone else enters the picture, especially someone more "popular", she just turns on an act to get noticed and make friends with them. She is trying so hard to be what she thinks she needs to be around them, that she forgets herself. I think it would be really exhusting to be changing your personality, just to fit in. I think the main reason for there change of colors, is simply peer-pressure. No one likes the feeling of being alone, or not having that special attention, so they want to fit in and be like everyone else, and if it means sacrificing your personality, some people feel that it's O.K. just to feel like you fit in, or sould fit in for that moment.
I don't know if this is a specific quote, but kind of a generalizaton of what is going on with Macbeth. Macbeth is displaying to Duncan this loyal, trust worthy, and strong man, willig to do almost anything for him and his country, but when in reality, he is going to kill the king, just to take his place. He is showig one personality to the king but thinking of betraying him in reality. Another example of apperance vs. reality, is a pretty obviouse one,but similar to the previouse, Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to act like an innocent flower, but to inturn, become the serpent underneath it. She is telling him to put on a front infront of Duncan and to keep the rest, hidden. And another is how, after Macbeth kills Duncan, they want to frame the chambermen to make it look like they are the killers. They actually were the killers but the apperance will be that the chambermen did.
Facetiousness seems to reign over teenage life. Many times, our society pushes people to act different than they actually are in order to be accepted. One of the people I know is like this. When you are alone with her, she opens up and is amazingly perceptive and honest. She makes you feel so at home and she tells you everything you never thought you would hear. Then when she is with her other group of friends, she acts like she is above everyone and dumbs herself done. It is very sad because she is so intelligent. This sadly happens all to often.
In Macbeth, one quote that really sticks out to me as portraying this idea of appearance vs. reality is; "Look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under 't." This has really strong connotations to me. She is saying that what looks like it could never do wrong is actually an evil being. That what looks beautious is actually ugly. This is so true in society, because many times outer appearance is absolutely no guage of inner beauty. More often than not, the people that are most beautiful on the outside are the ugliest on the inside. This epitomizes Lady Macbeth perfectly.
The second quote reads, "False face must hide what the false heart doth know." This says to me that in order to keep the evil things she is doing unknown, Lady Macbeth must put on a facade of total innocence and ignorance. This also happens a lot with society because people tend to act innocent if they have done something wrong because they are so very afeared of the consequences. They lie knowingly to your face, even though the quilt rots away their insides. It must take a huge toll on people to have that kind of guilt inside them. Pretty soon they will not know the difference between lies and truth. I was wondering if anyone can make any connections to this part of human nature and the part of human nature that makes us think that evil is the only way out?
The one reason I can think of that people would put on a "mask" is because of the pressures of our society. Of course, no one wants to do anything that seems "uncool", so the mask is simply a way to cover their true selves up so they will be accepted. Often, people go to EXTREME lengths to be popular, and this is just one of them. Just a small sacrifice (hiding yourself) to become popular, right? I have known lots of people who hide their true nature, most often their intelligence, so they'll be accepted by their peers! Shouldn't everybody just accept everybody else for who they are, not WHAT they are??
Macbeth is experiencing this practically through the entire play (or at least Act 1, and I'm guessing that he'll keep doing this to cover his bad deeds up). His peer (Lady Macbeth) is pressuring him not only to kill Duncan, but to act like a serpent under a flower (cover his dark side by acting as if he'd never do such a thing). In a way, Macbeth is also giving in to peer pressure, even if it's just from one person. If he shows his true nature and that he wants to kill the king, he will face eternal damnation by the people and by God. But if it weren't for Lady Macbeth, he wouldn't even be doing this! I mean at first he really wanted to, but at the end of Act 1 in Scene 6 he's having second thoughts, and if it weren't for her urging and revealing her hostile nature he would back out and forget the whole thing, then life would be good. But with his wife's urging, he'll probably do this against his own will...
I have never experienced the "mask" to such an extent as Macbeth with anyone, but this shows how powerful it is, that it can cause people to kill...
I know plenty of people who do that. This person totally ignores me when they are with their friends. When they are not with their friends, they are really friendly and fun to be around. I think that they wear a mask because they don't want their friends to see the real them. They want to have a different image than what they really are. Don't ask me why....
In scene four, Macbeth asks the stars to 'hide my black and deep desires.' He is asking 'fate' to hide his desires and make him appear to be loyal and content with what he has now. He obviously doesn't want people to see that he means to kill King Duncan. This is one example of appearance vs. reality.
Another example of appearance vs. reality is again in scene four when Lady Macbeth welcomes Macbeth home. She starts to talk to him, then says something like, "When Duncan gets here tonight, you must act normal and as a great host. But, underneath be something totally different. Be evil and stay evil. That will permit you to do this crime!" She is telling him to appear one way, but be the opposite way. That is really appearance vs. reality!
I know a few people who have two lives. One person inparticular stands out and to protect them, I'll call them Bob. When I was with Bob at school (in Ohio), he would act "cool" and easy-going, but when I would go over to his house, he would be a push-over, and not in the good way. I think he had two personalities because he was the youngest of, I think, 5 boys and, being at school, he could act how he wanted too because not many people knew him there. But at home, he had grown up with fights and wrestling and prbably found that the easiest way to win was to avoid it. So now, he would do what his brothers told him because he was trying to avoid a fight.
In Macbeth, there are many times when Macbeth has thoughts to himself revealing his ture intentions. Like when Malcolme is proclaimed to be the next king, Macbeth congradulates him and actes happy but then thinks about how he will have to murder Malcolme too. Another example is when he and Banquoe meeteh witches, he acts sort of concerned about Duncan but really, he hopes Banquoe won't guess his intentions.
I can think of many instances when people appear phony. I agree with everyone has said. Some people act certain ways when around certain people. When they are around “cool” people, they might try to act more important than they really are. They are less laid back, and try to be the center of attention. I totally agree about what hannahl said, and about friends acting one way when they’re with you, and a different way around other people, in a group. I also agree with amyw about the high standard or bar that society places for us all to live up to. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth experience many situations where they act differently. This is very unreasonable. I think that you should just act yourself. If people don’t like you for the way you are, then they aren’t really your friend. I will continue this later.
Generally wearing a mask is thought of as wearing a bad thing, but in many situations it is acceptable and even the propper thing to do. Sometimes a person is forced to hide their real feelings in order not to hurt those of others. It is somewhat like telling a white lie. If your friend got you something you hated for your birthday, you would put on a mask and hide how you really felt about the gift. it would be rude and insulting to show your outright disappointment. In this way you are hiding your "true self" in order to perserve some one elses feelings. We see this happening in Macbeth when Malcome is named prince. Macbeth hides his true feelings because it is the appropriatye thing to do.
That would be me... I am very incognito. I wear a small "mask" because I don't tell everyone everything about me until I have a deep trust for that person, because I'm somewhat childish in my private interests and am afraid of people disliking me because of very small aspects of me; I am not myself because people have proven themselves to be that petty. I chose "be the snake under't" quote and "smoke of hell covering up the sky" quote. In the former quote, Lady macbeth is telling macbeth to look like a harmless flower but be the predator that hides and strikes when the prey feels secure. The latter is simply, "cover up mine actions from mine self: be not me to me."
To be quite frank, many people (myself included) put up a mask not to appear cool, but out of fear of not being accepted. I'm blogging from the perspective of the "actor" because I've been putting on a show for a loooong time. Personally, you don't forget yourself: you want to be yourself but you're wondering whether others won't like you. I'm not shallow, I just consider my personality a valuable thing to keep in high esteem.
A friend of mine (girl A I will call her so it doesn't get confusing) had this happen to her once. One of her friends (girl B) seemed really nice when they were alone, and they had a great time together. Then girl A started to hear some of the things she had told girl B in closed confidence, from others. She realized that although girl B may be fun, she wasn't nice when she was with others. People probably put on these "masks" because they want to fit in. They want people to like them, and they think that by putting on this fake facade they will trick people and make people like them. Most of the time however, instead of being good for them, it actually hurts them, because istead of being themselves and having fun, they are constantly watching their backs.
A quote from this is "Let not light see my black and deep desires." This means that Macbeth hopes that no one sees through his "mask" to no that he plans to kill Duncan. He hopes that people will still see him as the brave loyal man, and not see that he desires the kings place and is willing to murder to get it. Another quote is, "Look like th' innocent flower, But be the serpent under 't." This quote means much the same thing, but Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to wear a mask so that she can follow through with her murder plans. She wants him to appear loyal, but in reality be a traitor.
Ok well I am not going to give any names, but I can think of a friend who acts one way around me and acts another way around other people. I think his idea is to be able to fit in with as many people as he possibly can. So what think he does is whatever the vibe or central ay of thinking in that group, or the way people act in that group he acts. I see it all the time in many different groups that he acts like this crazy, wild, fun person around me and some people, then he gets around another group or around girls and he is very polite and charming and it is a very big change. It is a pretty smart tactic, fitting in so everyone likes you, but then sometimes you don't know which part of him is fake or real.
Well, one of my friends acts kinda jerky when he is with just me and him and maybe one or two others. But if someone comes that he doesn't know that well, he starts to "mellow" down. I'm okay with it most times but sometimes it gets on my nerves.
I think that he does stuff like that because he thinks too much about what others think about him. it's dumb because since he knows us well enough, he can act like himself, but if he doesn't know other people quite as well, he tries to act cool...
well, he doesn't act like a complete jerk, he's just kinda mean...
Many people are self consious when they around new or other people (besides their immidiate family). They thing people will judge them more so than they actually will. This makes people act different when around different people. For instance, when guys are around girls they tend to act different. They want to put on a fake persona to impress the girls. In reality you should just act like yourself. You should be yourself because if that girl gains interest in you and you go to hang out with her alone than she is going to realize that she likes a guy that is different that what you would be showing her.
I had a friend once who was a great person when we were alone, but tried to act all cool and too good for me when we were around other people. This relates to Macbeth, because when he was around Duncan, he acted noble and loyal, but in his mind he was plotting to kill him all along. As Lady Macbeth said, "Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it." Both Macbeth and his wife are so blinded by their want that they are willing to kill Duncan, who haas done nothing but good things for Macbeth, and is his kinsman.
I have realized that so called "popular" people always act differently when they are in a large group compared to how they act one on one. It reminds me of the "Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it." quote, except backwards. It really struck me in Roman Polanki's movie how innocent, and beautiful Lady Macbeth appeared while underneath she was twisted and evil. That quote also reminds me of this book I read where the people elected a leader that looked suitable for the job and once he was in power he used that power to manipulate the people and their money, so you never know who's good and who's evil. I mean that neon frog looked pretty cute...
I can think of a couple of people that I don't really hang out with that have, or at least had, a mask. I had a friend whose name I'm not going to mention that these people made fun of, but only with their friends around. They mad efun of me when I was with my friend, but hardly did when I wasn't with him. They didn't make fun of me when they were one on one ever, I don't think. They were decent people then. The mask was to be "cool" with their friends, which is really sad. I don't know why they did it, but they did.
In Macbeth, I think of the "fair is foul and foul is fair" comment by the Weird Sisters. The people that I talked about were like that. Foul to my friend, and yet fair to me.
I think of Lady Macbeth with the mask thing too. She was great in public, all respectful and caring, but in private she plotted murder. Thats about as extreme as you can get.
I think it's hard to pinpoint what makes someone two faced. Some people do act differently around different people, and by that I mean their opinions and actions change, but other don't mean to act different. Some shy people won't act the same with their close friends as with strangers and I think thats due to comfort. But there are phony faced people in the world. I know people who will change completely around another person by acting strangely or by doing things out of character. I think that people change to impress that other person. With girls, a lot of them act oddly to impress boys which I think is lame. If someone only likes you for the person you pretend to be, then you have just built an unstable, false relationship. I really don't understand why some people don't act the same all the time but I do realize that some people will act differently around different people because they are shy and uncomfortable.
In Macbeth, one qoute about appearance and reality that comes to mind in "Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't." This means that you must appear welcoming and innocent but you have to always have your gaurd up and be careful. Another quote is
"let not light see my black and murderous desires". This means that Macbeth doesn't want people to see the evil thoughts that he keeps having because he doesn't want to be thought of as that way.
Yeah, I know someone who wheres "masks". In fact I know a lot more than one person that does that. But the person that I'm specifically thinking of acts funny, has no self discipline, and acts sort of stupid. But the real one I know is smart, really nice, and affectionate of others. This person does this so he/she can appear "cool" or how they actually want to appear.
The quote "Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under 't" -(Act I, Scene V) is a perfect example. To look one way and be another. This specific quote is describing Lady Macbeth, to be innocent on the outside, but evil on the inside.
And "Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness" -(Act I, Scene V) is a good one too. It is trying to be evil and kill but it is too full of kindness to do such a deed.
hello
I know a lot of people like that. One of my best friends is really different around me, versus when she is around her friends. Around her friends, she is really out going and loves to be the center of attention. She usually is laughing the whole time and doesn’t really talk to me much, but when it is just the two of us, we talk the whole time with laughs along the way. She is really open with me and tells me if there is something wrong. She also doesn’t mind crying around me, but if she is in a group, she will pretend she is happy anyways.
“Let not light see my black and deep desires.” To me this means, hide your dark thoughts from the innocent. When someone has a mean or cruel plan, they will tell other people that would understand and abet your plan, not those who would try and convince you otherwise. Macbeth will only speak of his plan with Lady Macbeth, not with anyone else who may convince him out of it or betray him and spoil the plan.
“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.” This mean’s that you can think what ever you want, but give nothing away. Be kind to those around you, but be ready to attack at any moment, unexpectedly. Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth to not show any signs of an assassination but be ready to kill him secretly.
I had a friend once who around me acted normal and just intrested in normal type stuff. But when he was around other people, he talked about bombs and destroying the world and killing people and things he didn't like. It was hard to tell if this was the real him or if the version i knew was the real one
I think people wear phony faces not necissarily to fit in, but to draw attention to themselves. I know in the past i have said or done something i normally wouldn't do, just to get everyone to pay attention to me.
In Macbeth, Ldy Macbeth tells him to wear a phony face when she says, “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.” She is basically telling Macbeth to be evil but look harmless. Another example is when Macbeth says, "let not light see my black and murderous desires". This means he wants to wear a phony face so no one will know he is a murderer. Bith quotes mean Macbeth has to wear a phony face. He has to appear to be a loyal servent when around the king, when he is actually a murderer.
I actually know quite a few people who seem to wear masks sometimes. One of my friends acts so differently when it's just the two of us versus when we're with a group of people. When we're by ourselves, she seems much more honest and genuine. When we're with other people, she seems like she will do anything to fit in with the crowd, like making up stories and just doing things she wouldn't normally do. It's really unfortunate that people do this, but I think almost everyone has put on a mask at one point. It's usually because the person wants to be accepted or is afraid of what other people will think of him/her.
This quote has been mentioned in most of the previous comments, but it really is an excellent example of false appearances.
In Scene Five Lady Macbeth says, "Look like th' innocent flower,
But be the serpent under 't."
She's telling Macbeth that he should appear to be all kind and innocent like a flower, but he needs to be evil like a serpent.
In Scene Four, Macbeth is talking to Duncan and says, " The service and the loyalty I owe
In doing it pays itself. Your highness' part
Is to receive our duties, and our duties
Are to your throne and state children and servants,
Which do but what they should, by doing everything
Safe toward your love and honor."
Macbeth is saying that it is an honor to serve and protect Duncan even though he was thinking of murdering him just moments before this conversation took place.
People act differently in public and in private because of today's society. If you don't act a certain way, you're not accepted, and that forces people to put on airs, and pretend to be someone that they're not. When people are alone with friends, it's easy to be themselves, because true friends accept the person for who they really are, not because of their affectations in public. It's easy for people to forget their real selves in an attempt to be popular or admired.
Many of the false pretences in Macbeth are Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth's. When Lady Macbeth says, 'look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath,' she's telling Macbeth to hide their evil intentions concerning Duncan by being nice and courteous to him, so that he suspects nothing. Another quote that demonstrates appearance versus reality is when Macbeth says, 'mock the time with fairest show: false face must hide what the false heart doth know.' He's telling himself and Lady Macbeth to fool Duncan with their polite and loyal behavior, obscuring their plans of murdering Duncan. I think in this scene, Macbeth's not trying to simply fool Duncan, but himself included. He feels that if he's kind to Duncan before he kills him, that he will be forgiven, but he's just fooling himself; he knows what his final punishment will be in the end. Damnation.
There are many people that I know of that wear a mask when they are with some people but do not wear it when they are with others. I think that they do this because they are worried about what the other people will think of them, so they end up changing themselves for that specific reason. I don't know why they wont be themselves though. Some people do their best to be people pleasers so they put on a mask and act that way.
One example from Macbeth is,"So foul and fair a day I have not seen." This says that the day is fair yet somewhere hidden in it is something that has not gone quite right. The fair part of the day tries to cover up the foul part. Another quote is,"Stars, hide your fires;Let not light see my black and deep desires." This is a quote where Macbeth is trying to cover up the true feelings that he has when he is around everone else, but when he is alone and with Macbeth they are let out and know. Macbeth covers his true self several times in the story.
I'd just like to answer some people's curiosities about why "mask wearers" act like they do. Being the only person who wears one, I can speak from experience :D. Well, since some of us have very.... unique personalities, we're afraid that people won't accept us for who we are (or in my case, have had experience with people being so petty that they don't like me for small things), so we put on the masks.
I definitely know A TON of people who act differently around certain people. In fact, I agree with josed...EVERYONE acts differently around certain groups of people whether we want to believe it or not. Like around adults or your parents you really don't cuss, are whiled, or perverted like you are around your friends because it just doesn't seem right. Also, in public people seem to have to prove themselves to others. So they are acting like they are perfect, happy, or nice. However when you get one on one with certain people, it's almost like they become raw and you can see who they really are, their flaws, imperfections, and hurt. So in my mind that creates the difference of people in public and in private. I know that I am definitely like that. If you get one on one with me...it would be a very interesting conversation.
Of course the first quote in Macbeth that stands out in my mind about Phony Faces, is the “Foul is Fair and Fair is Foul.” In my words this quote says that whatever seems to be bad is actually good and whatever seems to be good is actually bad. This is basically the quote for appearance vs reality, because it means that things are different then they appear. Another quote is from Macbeth: “Stars, hide you firs! Let not light see my black and deep desires.” Macbeth is saying in this quote that he wants the stars not the shed their light, so that no one can see his dark desire to kill King Duncan and Malcolm. This quote means that Macbeth doesn’t want anyone to see what he is thinking. He wants to hide it and have his thoughts appears to be different then what they really are.
CONT. FROM EARLIER!!! When we are by ourselves, she is very open, and we share things both ways. However, when we are in the presence of other people, she does not act the same way. I agree with melissaz’s comments. It is sad that people have to think that they are important with everyone, and they don’t think that you matter. It makes me feel like I don’t matter, and that I am not “popular” enough to be their friend.
One quote from Macbeth is “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion, whose horrid image doth my unfix hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature?” This was said by Macbeth. I think that he is basically saying that he wants to kill the king. He knows that the Witches are up to something. He is the cousin of and a kinsman with the king, so he Duncan thinks that he wouldn’t betray him. King Duncan was betrayed by Macdonaldwald. He appears to others that he doesn’t think that the witches are correct about the prophecies. In his own mind, however, he is hoping that they will be correct, and he will do anything to become king. Another quote is “…For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” In this quote, Macbeth is saying that he has horrible desires, to kill the king, and that he doesn’t want others to see his dark and deep desires. He thinks that someone will find out eventually, and he hopes that it will not be Banquo. He is saying that he must appear innocent on the outside, but that he is really guilty on the inside.
One of my friends is like this. He is very different in a group than when we are hanging out together. I think he wears a mask so he can fit in with the group. He sometimes makes a fool of himself to impress others. I think he does this because it is the only way he can fit in with the people he wants to fit in with and if he were himself, he thinks they might not accept him for who he is. "Look like th' innocent flower, But be the serpent under 't." This is a quote that is showing that Macbeth is not as he appears. He needs to be wearing a mask to hide what he intends to do. He needs to look innocent and pretty while underneath he needs to be full of evil to perform the act. Another quote is "Your servants ever Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs in compt, To make their audit at your highness' pleasure, Still to return your own.". This quote is about the mask that Lady Macbeth is wearing. She is saying how she is honored to be hosting the king here and is glad to allow him to have whatever he wants. She is ovbiously lying through her teeth because of what she did when she summomed the spirits. She has no greater desire than power, and King Duncan stands in her way.
It's hard to think of one person in specific for this questions-it's sad, but I know far too many people who masquerade who they are in order to make certain people like or dislike them. One girl I knew was my best friend until she moved schools, then she started to ignore me when she was around the girls from her new school. Eventually our friendship fell apart.
I agree with Hannah, it is a pity that our society encourages this kind of behavior. People see celebraties in the news and do their best to be like someone they're not. People who are insecure with who they are tend to do this, unfortunately they don't realize that putting on false pretenses only makes them even less insecure than before.
Macbeth is a very good perception of human nature. Most people are so blinded by their own ambition or jealousy that they are not able to see the flaws in their actions until it's too late. One quote that pops out to me is "fair is foul and foul is fair"; this outright says things are not what they appear to be. People can be pretty and nice but might actually be aweful people to know. It's reidiculous how some (girls in particular) let their lives be controlled by body image. People who don't fit the standard for pretty or attractive might have the most beautiful souls of anyone you know. Lady Macbeth greeting Duncan is another quote that goes along wonderfully with this topic. She greets him kindly as if she's merely a gentle house-wife who is overjoyed to host her King when she really wants to kill him and take his power for herself.
I believe that almost everyone does that. I agree with what maddieh said about it sometimes being a comfort thing. Maybe some people are not able to be themselves as much as they are with friends because they are afraid of being judged. i had a friend who was loud and happy with me but once we where in a big group she became really quiet. i think that she was just really had to become more comfortable before she opened up. a really good quote from Macbeth that shows appearance vs reality is Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires. He is saying hide my dark thoughts don't let them show to other people. another good quote is one said by Lady Macbeth to Macbeth telling him to look an innocent but to be an evil serpent beneath.
One of my friends named Dustin Dodd, acts like a big jerk to me when I'm around my others friends to up his social standings, but when me and him are alone, he ust jokes around like any other friend would. I enjoy his company either way, because he is always going to be my friend, no matter how mean he is, because I know the real him.
OH COME ON!!! THAT COMMENT WORKED??? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME????
hmmm
Generally I think of some guys that went to my middle school. In public they had to act all "cool" (jerky) and bully up on others. Most of the time these boys did this for their friends so they could round up some laughter so they could fit in and impress others. The funny part is that when you're with them alone they're completely polite and courteous and it makes you want to trust thim. It is unfortunate that the statuses they have now are probably not what they want them to be because of the way the boys acted differently in private and in public
The first quote that I thought of was the one that Lady Macbeth said: "look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under 't" (I turned straight to that page when i was looking for this haha) This quote is really simple because it's saying that you should act like a flower (which is innocent) but be the serpent (which is venomous) underneath it. People don't suspect flowers to do anything harmful but they doexpect that of snakes
The second quote would be the one Macbeth says about how he wants to hide his darkest desires (about killing Duncan). Obviosly he wants fate to help hide the way he feels so that no one will see what he wishes to do. I think he might have felt ashamed when hesaid this because he was indecisive about his decision. Lady Macbeth definitely influenced him and might have been the piece of "fate" that helped him hide his darkest desires. please work please work please work....
When I read this question the first person that came to mind was myself. I know when I act differently with one person than with bigger groups. When I'm in a bigger group I start acting more loudly and obnoxiously than with a small group. I do this because, frankly, I like the attention, and I like fitting in. I've never actually known anyone I know to start acting completely different around different people, but I think the reason people (myself included) act differently is to fit in. School and other social stuff is heck if you don;t fit in so I don't blame anyone who does it.
It's pretty normal for your average teenager to act one with a group of people and then act another when they are at home or with only a few close friends. Some people are more outgoing when are only with a few friends than they are when they are with a big group of people because they are afraid of what others will think of them. For teens,what others think of you is very important. People also might act differently when they are trying to fit in with a group of people. They might hide some of their original personality and try to act like the rest of the group, just so they can fit in. Someone would wear a mask like this because they are insecure and need to accepted to feel good about themselves.
My two quotes from Macbeth that illustrate false appearances are "The unguarded Duncan? What not put upon His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt Of our great quell?"
and " Who dares receive it other,
As we shall make our griefs and clamor roar Upon his death?" The first quote says that they will make it appear that Duncan's guards killed him, even though Macbeth killed him. The second quote means that when Duncan dies, no one will mourn as much as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, which would be weird because they were the ones who killed him. They would be mourning even though they didn't care.
I know several people who act differently depending on who they are with. One of my friends is pretty popular so when he is with all his friends, he kind of turns into a jerk and makes jokes and acts like he superior to everyone else around him. But, when I talk to him by myself he is real. He is actually a good- hearted person and makes me laugh. Maybe he doesn't even know he is doing it but reguardless, I think he shouldn't have to be that person that thinks he is better than everyone else to be popular or liked. I can understand in some situations you may need to act differently than you would normally, but you shouldn't have to change who you are because of the people around you.
A qutoe from Macbeth that shows an example of appearance vs. reality is " Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under't." This quote tells of how Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to be welcoming and seem innocent when Duncan comes to the castle, so that he won't have any idea of Macbeth's actual intent to kill him.
I don't think I've ever met a teenager who acted the same around their parents and their friends, I know that I dont.
Some people go further than that though.
One of by best friends acts totally different around every group of people she knows. Sometimes she is moody and depressed and other times she is compleatly hyper and happy. It all depends on who she is with. It really buggs me but she is still my friend because she is always the same around me and I can trust her. I think that is the important thing.
Lady Macbeth is missing that. She is not trustworthy because of the way she acts around certain people.
My two quotes are:
#1- "look the innocent flower but be the serpent underneath" It baisically says to look kind but be the enemy.
#2- "only look up clear. To alter favor ever is to fear." It means that if you look troubled it will let them know our plan so look happy.
I hate that i have friends that i i have to say that i like them only in certain situations. i have a friend who is SO fun to hang out with outside of school, but at school, it seems they try so hard to impress poeple there, that i dont want to be areound them. i think she does this because she feels that because she is gettign older, she needs to change because everyone else is.
Like what Katherinem said, thsi quote has been mentioned a lot "Look like th' innocent flower,
But be the serpent under 't." but it really does relate well to what we are talkign about. And its a good example of people in general. I know some poeple who saw someone they didnt like and started going off about how weird and annoyign they were....literally 5 seconds later, they yelled thier name with a fake smile and gave them a hug. It's good to be nice to poeple, but if you really dont liek them, dont make it seem like your best friends, i for one am disgusted by poepel who constantly do this.
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair." Whitney mentioned this in class, and i very much agree with it, that fair represents Lady Macbeth, and foul is Macbeth. Because the fair turns foul by wanting to murder the king, and the foul turns fair by being a softy and wantign his cousin to live. this quote represents the reversal of roles and the reality vz appearence.
Being a teenage girl, I can't even tell you how many phony people I have met. I mean it is truely amazing how fake a person can act in order to help their personal agenda. Macbeth is a perfect example of it. The basic plot of Macbeth so far, is that Macbeth is trying to make his social status higher, even if that means betraying people that he has been totally loyal to before. He is just like a self absorbed teenager. So many times someone will want to become more "popular" and is willing to lose a couple of friends or betray them to get there. This reminds me of the quote,"fair is foul, and foul is fair." This quote truely explains the theme appearance vs reality. What it is pretty much saying that in order to get what you desire, "something fair" you will do "foul" things to achieve it, and since those "foul" things are contributing to the common good, that makes them "fair". This is kind of like the thought process of betrayal, well I would really like it if I could get this, but in order to get this, I have to that, but that is okay since I get this. Okay I know I used this and that a lot in that last sentence, but what I mean is that is how someone goes form thinking something is wrong at first to something is right. It seems wrong at first appearance, but then really is "right" because it will help you out. Another quote that I really liked was the one with the snake and the flower. It really describes how someone or something can look so inocent and yet strike back at you when you least expect it. So now that I have digressed from my point, let's get back to it. Macbeth is simply a teenager, who really wants to be popular. In order to do that, with peer presurre from his "friends" he will do what ever it takes to get there. HE may look sweet and loyal but is really the snake waiting under the flower.
Let me also say, that I LOVE what everyone else has said so far. So many good points and quotes have come up on the blog. I especially liked when people mentioned masks.
I did have a lot offriends who pretended to be something they're not. Like everyone else said, they acted a certain way with me, but differently when those people weren't around. Were actually not friends anymore, because I kind of pushed him down an escalator as a child. He didn't get hurt, but anyway he had just insulted me in front of a lot of his friends just so they wouldn't think he was a loser for being seen with me. I'm not about to push some one down an escalator now, but I don't see why you'd like someone who insults people who at least USED to appreciate you. I'd like to say that I act the same around everybody, and that if I do neglact my friends, its not because I want to impress somebody, but they aren't being horribly interesting to me. That may not sound much better, but I think that I spend an equal amount of time with all my friends, and I'm just me 24/7.
I can think of plenty of people who act differently around different people. In public these people act cool, like jerks, rude, dumb, or just false. In private these people are nice, smart, and can be fun to be around. People wear masks because they're scared people won't like them for who they are or because they want to "fit in". "I am settled and bend up Each corporal feat. Away, and mock the time with the fairest show; False face must hide what the false heart doth know" I think this quote means that Macbeth has deciced he will commit the act if killing Duncan and will have the dinner and decieve everyone. "This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air nimbly and sweetly recommends itslef unto our gentle senses." The castle is appearance vs. reality because it appears to be a sweet place when it is actually going to be a place where a murder is commited.
Ok well I actually have a friend he does this ALL the time. When she is around a certain group of people, she acts so fake and cool and acts like she doesn’t have any clue who I am. And then when she is with me she is all relaxed and herself. I think the intention of her putting on this mask is really nothing other then she is trying to impress certain people. Like catem said people will act fake in order to benefit their personal agenda. People like this will do anything to become more popular, even if it means tearing down good friends on the way to achieve that social status. I personally don’t understand why people do things like that to that extreme of a matter, because sooner or later everyone will see the real you!!
I think two quotes in Macbeth that address the idea of false appearances are “There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face,” and, “False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” The first quote, “there's no art to find the mind's construction in the face,” is saying you can’t judge a person by their face or appearance, you can’t judge a book by its cover. I think this quote relates back to appearance vs. reality because you really need to know the person before you can figure out their “reality.” A book might look good to read, but then you read its chapters and find out it was nothing you thought it would be. The quote, “False face must hide what the false heart doth know,” I think is a perfect quote that illustrates appearance v. reality. It is saying that a false face must hide what your evil heart really is. Hide your evil heart by a fake face. This is saying even though your heart is one way, you must appear in a different more pleasant way. Even like when people are playing poker and they have a bad hand, they don’t want their face to betray what they really have.
when i am with my friends in public in a group, they try to be these really cool kids and try to walk the walk and talk the talk to impress others, and to feel cool. But when i am alone with them, they act normal and are a lot more relaxed.
one quote that related to false appearances was when lady macbeth told her husband to act calm like nothing was wrong, but underneath let the "serpent" within come out.
another is when the three witches say that fair is foul and foul is fair. i think this relates to macbeth being a fierce warrior so he is foul, but then he gets cold feet not wanting to kill the king. lady macbeth is a woman, and people might jump t conclusions that she is fair, then she turns foul by pressuring her husband to kill the king.
One of my good friends sammie (not really her name but it is for bloggers benifit) acts different around all different people. She puts a face of a tuff jerk when she meets someone. She builds up a wall of jerkness to protect her self from being hurt. She has been hurt mutiple times so she tries to stop her relationships from getting to a point to where it could damage her more or "cut" her old wounds open. Once she knows you well enough to trust that you wont hurt you she trusts you for a very long time and turng into herself. She is a strong, sweet, smart, loving girl who cares so much about her sisters and friends. Altoug she builds up a wall of pain she is one of the most wonderful, talented people. So I think that we need to put there backgroung into perspective when we judge our friends and there "phoney" faces.
Well, I personally think that it is impossible to go through life without knowing someone that wears a mask. I can however think of one particular person that acts one way with a group, but completely differently when alone. Her and I are great friends when we are together (just the two of us), yet as soon as a couple more people join us, she is not herself at all! She ignores me and tries to act cool. I do not think that she realizes how much of a fool she looks like to the group!!! I truly think that she acts this way because she doesn’t feel comfortable enough with herself to show others what she is really like. To me, that’s just sad…
Act one does have many quotes that address the idea of false appearances. One example of this is the quote, “Your face, my Thane, is a s a book where men may read strange matters…bear welcome in your eye…” In other words, Lady Macbeth is scolding Macbeth for “acting too much like himself.” She tells him to put on a phony face in order to deceive the king. This relates to the theme appearance v. reality because although Macbeth may appear the way Lady Macbeth wants him to, in reality he does not feel that way at all! The second quote, “Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed the air is delicate,” is also another example of appearance v. reality. In other words, Banquo “sees” the delicateness of the castle of which Lady and Macbeth reside. Lady and Macbeth have both put on a fake appearance on the castle of warmth and goodness, yet inside there is plotting of the kings death.
Well, I have a friend whose name-for the sake of his privacy-will be John. In front of his popular friedns, John acts very "cool" by cussing and acting in otherwise nasty ways to make himself "cool"
But in front of me, John is his true self- a person with morals and goals.
For Macbeth and Lady Macbeth they don't hide their true intentiolns to be cool, but to hide the fact that they want to become king and queen. In Lady macbeth's words, she says that in order to conceal themselves they must look as if they always would-kind and warm to the present king. For John-this would be acting "cool" to concela his "uncool" identity. Towards the end of Act I, We see macbeth reconsidering what he is about to do. This relateds ot John in the way he tries to tell me he is moral and kind (which he is) but it must be differnet in front of his peers.
To sum things up, John is a good guy-deep down-like Macbeth, but it is not shown under peer pressure-like Lady Macbeth.
In my life I have come to know many people who are fake. When its just the two of us they will be fun to be around and they really let their personality shine through but then if anyone else hangs out with us, they turn into a completly different person. THeir personalities change and sometimes they become a person that I don't like anymore. I think that people act this way because they feel really insecure. I think that sometimes people feel that their lives aren't good enough so they have to create a new, more interesting life. It seems that when they are around people that they know well they don't have to live their made up life because they know that person will like them anyway, but when someone they don't know as well, they get the feeling that they have to impress them. In Macbeth there are many examples of appearance vs. reality. For example, Lady Macbeth says that Macbeth "It is too full o' the milk of human kindness". This is appearance vs. reality because, to everyone but Lady Macbeth, Macbeth is a guiltless killer, however, Lady Macbeth knows him better, she knows that he is really a very caring and kind person. Also, i think that Lady Macbeth is an example of appearance vs. reality. She appears to be a well put together, respectable woman, but she turns out to be a power hungry, insane woman, and she makes this clear through her speech and body language.
I have encournered many people through out my life who you could say are two faced, fake, or just don't act themselves around some people. Most of the people I have known changed the way they act to please the people that they are around. If the people like to be wild and fun well the person will change her/his whole attitude to a wild and fun one just so that they will be accepted with that crowd. Then if they are with a serious, "cool" crowd then they will be serious, even if their real personality is fun, nice and free spirited. When in private they act their true self because they don't have anyone that they are trying to please or trying to fit in with, even with their family they usually will act themselves because they know that those people will love them unconditionally. Act one has sooo many parts that relate to the idea of appearance versus reality. One quote, "Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it" said by Duncan about the Thane of Cawdor. Meaning that nothing, throughout his whole life was portayed like he was when he was leaving the earth. This relates to appearance versus reality, through my interpretation, that all of his life was reality until he was condemned to death and then it turned to be all about the appearance of being a good, kind, man worthy of forgiveness. Another quote that relates to appearance versus reality is "There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face." Meaning that you can not read a mans true intentions or thoughts just by looking at a man's face/appearance. Said by Duncan. This relates to appearance versus reality because you are not necessarily able to tell the reality of what people are thinking or what people are realy like by looking at their face because their face can portay something totally different/opposite.
I know someone that I think feels like they have to live up to their "reputation" even if that reputation doesn't apply to them anymore. When I am around this person they are so them selves, not out to bash others, and not out to seem cool. I love that about them. But I've seen tem around other people and they are completely the opposite. I feel like because I know this person so well I know that that is NOT who they truly are.
I think that others don't except change well. When you or someone else changes it is kind of a shock whether the change is for the better or not. So I think it's hard for this person to show his "old friends" the new person they are.
I know this quote has been used but I feel it is significant to the idea of a false appearance. “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it.” Lady Macbeth is telling her husband to be “two faced” Another quote that is said by Macbeth is “only look up clear: to alter favour ever is clear” Lady Macbeth is telling her husband to not really show his feelings which can be the reason a person can appear different than they actually are.
I think that there are a lot of people who act differently in public then one on one. Some people act very different around different people. I think thats because they want to impress or make that certain person like them so they feel like they have to act differently around them. Most people change to impress others or because they are afraid that they won't be aacepted if they show who they really are.
"Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see ." the quote said be Macbeth means to me that he doesn't want anyone to see what he is really thinking and he doesn't want them to see him for what he really is.
"Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place
Did then adhere, and yet you would make both.
They have made themselves, and that their fitness now
Does unmake you." Lady Macbeth is talking about the real Macbeth and how he can kill people in brutal battles but isn't "man" enough to kill the king.
the person who i usually think of when this question comes up, always acts super friendly in private. they are very kind and not pushy and moody. In public, this person takes offense to everything and will ignore certain people in order to grab the spotlight or to "sit higher" with others. I think this person acts the way they do to get the spotlight and attract attention even though they claim that, that is not their intention. this person also seems mad a lot to get attention also.
"look the innocent flower but be the serpent underneath" which means to look innocent but to be the plotter behind the scenes.
and "Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires." it says basically that he wants to keep his plot hidden in the darkness until it unfolds.
one such person I now that acts differently around certain people is this guy named Stephen Field. He will act cool and upper class when he is with older friends more "down to earth and thoughtfull"when around adults, appear kind and respectful when with family, and goofy when he is with his best friends. I think the reason he does this is so that he can fit in with multiple groups and not feel as though he were an outcast. i think he tries to be himself but he comes in many forms as is true with most of the world today and even yesterday.
I think a good quote is when Banquo is describing the weird sisters. They could look like anything and still be evil underneath they chose to be ugly and distastful but not without some level of an aluring arora about them. another qoute thet brings the idea of masking ones true meanings is with Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. She looks beautiful and caring when she really is an evil serpaent beneath a mask.
Mattw you are my hero! I mean come on, who has ever pushed their friend down a escalator? That is pretty sweet. (not that I'm encouraging anyone)
Anyway, I think I myself act differently around other people, and I think everyone else in the world does. I mean, if I were to meet the queen of England for tea, I'd act differently than if I was with my friends. I view that as a normal thing, but I also think that I act differently around different people too. This is not cool. I think people do this to try to fit in, because everyone wants to have someone to have as a friend. In response to this, people act differently to try to get the approval of others. This is more commonly referred to as "trying to hard". To get people's approval, you just need to please two people, yourself and that person in the mirror.
I think that when lady Macbeth says "look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath" is a good quote to represent what is happening because this shows that Macbeth is being the loyal servant, yet also being the evil murder at the same time. Also, I like the quote, "This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle senses," because the castle seems seduce them in while all the while waiting for the right time to strike its victims down.
I have several friends who are different in public v. private (lets just say I am talking about one though) She is very flirtatious and 'plastic' in public, only deeming topics about her and other (her name)worthy topics. But when it is just me and her (which isn't very often any more) she is fun and easy going. I think some people aren't comfortable enough with their selves and not confident enough to stand up and say, 'You know what? I just don't care about what you think about me'.
I think one of the most obvious quotes about appearance vs. reality is spoken by the witches, 'Fair is foul and foul is fair' speaks about how Macbeth appears to be a foul person, but underneath is fair, when Lady Macbeth is the opposite.
I also think that the quote 'Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under 't' Is a good Macbeth quote saying that Some people look all innocent on the outside (Lady Macbeth) and are actually devilish underneath.
After reading everyone's responses I just wanted to ask this, is there anything wrong with being a bit different depending on your group??
and I totally agree with markg about the guys and girls thing, so many girls do the same thing
I know many people who act different around me than they do around other people but I try not to hang out with those people a lot because I don’t like it when people act differently depending on whom they are with. I think that people who do this are really insecure and do not know how to act around certain people. I try not to be fake at all. I try to “tell it like it is” but that comes along with some challenges too.
A lot of people choose this but I think a very good quote for this topic is, "look the innocent flower but be the serpent underneath". I think this is saying that some people hide who they really are under a blanket that nobody can see. I don’t think this is a good thing because then people don’t know who you really are. In a way Macbeth is like this because he is portrayed as this killing macho guy who has no conscience or morals, but deep inside he knows what he is doing is wrong.
When it's just us, they give me plenty of attention and are really nice, but around other people, it seems like they would prefer anyone else. They always try to be the popular one and try to get everyone's attention.
Well one of the most obvious quotes, "look the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath," is pretty self explanatory. Sometimes to fool someone else, you have to act the part, when it's not who you really are. Another example of appearance vs. reality was when the king came to the Macbeth castle which seemed sweet to King Duncan, but he was really walking toward danger.
As many other people have said, I have a few friends who will wear a mask around certain groups of people. They will act one way aroound their family and then another way around their friends. They will try to act more responsible around their parents and then will be completely immature around close friends.
when Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to act kind and loyal to Duncan while he really means to kill him it is very two faced. Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth to act kind and loyal while he really means to kill Duncan.
When Malcom is decided as the prince of cumberland, Macbeth is very two faced. He says he will spread the word of joy for Malcom and Duncan when really he is very angry that he was not crowned Prince.
As many others have said I know a few people who act different when they're with certain groups of people. For example they'll act like I don't even exist when they're with a certain group of people, but when they're with me they'll act like my best friend. I agree with molly s about them not being comfortable enough with them selves to be themselves around everyone. I slao think people feel the need to be different to impress people. I think this is dumb because you shouldn't try to impress someone who needs to be impressed for them to like you, chances are they like you just the way you are.
A quote that reflects the idea of false appearences is "fair is fowl and fowl is fair" meaning that what looks fair may be fowl and what looks fowl may acually be fair this represents fake identity because sometimes what one person sees in a person is different than waht another person sees in the same person. Another quote that represents fake identity is when Lady Macbeth says to Macbeth "Look like th' innocent flower, But be the serpent under 't" this is saying that Lady Macbeth want Macbeth to look innocent but acually be evil on the inside.
I know someone who acts like one way when he is with one group of people, and completely different when he's not. For the sake of his relationship with his girlfriend i will not give names, butthe way he acts is really annoying. When he is around his girlfriend he acts all nice and sweet to her, but then when he is not around her he acts like a complete player.
When lady macbeth is talking about acting like a flower but be the serpent underneath it, she is telling Macbeth to act one way, but really be completely different, for the sake of ambition.
also , When Macbeth is talking, right after Duncan names Molcolm his hier, he mentions something about letting no one see his black thoughts, he means that he is hoping his mask of humble chivalry doesn;t slip and expose hisambition, and thoughts of killing his king.
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