In this entry, I would like to focus on this statement “Fair is foul,
and foul is fair” only. This statement attracts me even though it is not so
important in the story. Previously, I was not aware of this statement and just
read through the text as usual. Until the day when Sam translated it into
Mandarin, I read it and felt this statement has a deep meaning. It is not only
a common statement! Then, I start to search for its meaning.
I could only find some information
about this statement. I think this is not a significant line in the whole
story. So only a few people discuss about it. Never mind… Let’s discuss about
this statement.
Let’s look at the first answer posted by gbeatty. She says that,
“On the most basic level, it means that
things are reversed.
To expand on that a little bit, it
means two related things in general. First, it means that things that are good
will become bad and things that are bad will become good. Second, it means
things that look pretty ("fair") will become ugly ("foul")
and things that are ugly will become beautiful.
The witches are referring first to
themselves. They look ugly, but the predictions they offer are beautiful to
Macbeth.
They are then referring to the entire world of the play.”
For the
second response by tpritam, he says that,
“Fair and Foul are two controversial and opposite words.
In this play they signify the
goodness, prosperity, and the pleasing life of the chief hero Macbeth. On the
other plane they signify the darker side of his would-be life.”
Next,
I shall show you comment from drrb. As I go through all the answers, I think
this is the best elaboration and I love how he explained to the readers.
“Macbeth according to Wilson Knight is a study in evil
and darkness. The witches are the agents of evil and foul in the play. To the
witches fair and foul are same. As Satan in Milton regarded ‘Evil’ as his
‘Good’, the witches too regarded ‘foul’ is their ‘fair’. This is riddle and the
witches speak in riddles and paradoxes as they are mysterious beings of the
universe. In the very opening of the play the witches appear in storm and rain
and plan to have the rendezvous with Macbeth. As the three witches leave, they
chant a witchy chant: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair: / Hover through the
fog and filthy air" (1.1.11-12). As creatures of the night and the devil,
they like whatever is "foul" and hate the "fair." So they
will "hover" in the fog, and in the dust and dirt of battle, waiting
for the chance to do evil. Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair" is a paradox, a
statement that appears to be contradictory but actually expresses the truth.
The witches are foul, but they give fair advice. Macbeth seems like a hero, but
he is a plotter and dastard. It is quite interesting to note that the words of
the witches will have an echo in Macbeth’s. “So foul and fair a day I have not
seen”. Macbeth utters these words at the very first time he enters the stage.
This shows the evil connection between Macbeth and the witches. This is
suggestive of the psychological depravity of Macbeth who means that the day is
foul because it is stormy and fair because he has won the battle against King
of Norway and Thane of Cawdor.”
From all of the
answers, I would like to summarise what I understand about this statement. We have
good and bad people in this world. Human has many different characteristics. Some
are helpful, polite, selfish, heartless, kind, hardworking, loyal, disloyal,
cruel and so on. Ask yourself, which is good and which is bad. Maybe you think
selfish is no problem but your friends might think that selfish is bad. The words
good and bad are abstract. It depends on how the person wants to interpret the
meaning of the words. According to dssb, the witches regarded ‘foul’ is their ‘fair’.
As for Macbeth, he changed from fair to foul after listening to the witches’
chants. To achieve his wish which is to be the King of Cawdor, he will do
everything that crosses his mind without a second thought.
I would like to relate
this situation to our current situation in this world. From daily news, I read
a lot of issues which I think should not happen in this civilized era. We have
brain to think before we act. But people nowadays are still the same. Behave like
uncivilized moron! I read the latest news about a babysitter who whipped the babies
yesterday. People will do anything for money. I can relate this useless
babysitter with Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 7 when she says,
“I have given suck, and know
How tender ‘tis to love the babe
that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my
face,
Have
pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash’d the brains out, …”
What I am concern here
is there is no more rule in this world. Oh…there are but the rules are not
practised to those who have power or authority. This world is full of
corruption. Good is accused as bad and bad can be good. It is like a snake can
slide straightly for forever.
~ Emily Yoong Ai Nee ~ 154565 ~ Entry 8 ~
