In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the characters employ metaphorical “masks” to hide their true identities and emotions, playing a crucial role in advancing the story. These masks greatly influence the unfolding events. Ultimately, Macbeth centers around Macbeth’s ambition to gain power and become the ruler of Scotland.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth worked together to murder the King, resulting in Macbeth’s ascent to power. However, this act masks the true reality of a monarch’s existence. In Act One, Scene Five, at a banquet held in Macbeth’s castle, Lady Macbeth advises her husband to feign innocence and ignorance regarding their plan to kill the King. She tells him to “appear like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it.” Wearing a mask is essential for ensuring that his intentions remain hidden from others. Masks possess the ability to conceal anything one desires and create a false sense of tranquility.
Over time, Macbeth grows uncertain while Lady Macbeth provides reassurance that their plan will be successful. When they return to the banquet with the intention of murdering the king, Macbeth asserts that they must hide their true intentions behind masks. Masks possess the ability to deceive anything or anyone but appear authentic to human perception.
