Question

in act iii, scene ii, macbeth says that he and his wife must make their faces vizards, or masks, to their hearts. the tragedy of macbeth contains many instances in which the characters mask their thoughts, feelings, or desires. write an essay about the theme of “masks”—betrayal, falsehood, and concealment—in act iii of the play. which characters use them? what do they conceal and why? are the masks necessarily evil? use examples from the text to illustrate your points.

Explanation:

In Act III of Macbeth, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are prime examples of characters using masks. Macbeth pretends loyalty to Banquo while plotting his murder, concealing his ambition - driven murderous intent. Lady Macbeth masks her inner - turmoil and guilt with a facade of strength and composure. The masks aren't always inherently evil; they can be a means of self - preservation in a treacherous world. For instance, Macbeth's false friendship could be seen as a survival strategy in the power - hungry court. However, they often lead to negative consequences like the breakdown of trust and moral decay.

Answer:

One would write an essay exploring how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth use masks to conceal their true intentions and emotions in Act III of Macbeth, discussing whether the masks are evil or a necessary survival mechanism, and citing textual evidence such as Macbeth's false friendship with Banquo and Lady Macbeth's outward bravado despite inner guilt.