'Appearance and Reality' in Macbeth: Key Quotes & Analysis

Studying Shakespeare? Dr Aidan, PhD in Shakespeare, provides you with the first key theme in Macbeth - Appearance and Reality. With in-depth analysis of key quotes, this first video on the key themes in Macbeth aims to help you gain a greater understanding of the play in a matter of minutes.

Have any video requests? Post them in the comments.

Music Credits: El Patio, Orquestra Arrecife, (Jamendo Licensing)

Image Credits
GREEN EYE By secretlondon
Witch and cat By liftarn
Shakespeare characters - witch 2 By Firkin
Shakespeare characters - witch 3 By Firkin
French Snake By j4p4n
Crown By Anonymous
Circassian dagger By hatalar205
Cape - Cloak By dkdlv
Shakespeare characters - Macbeth By Firkin
swift By papapishu
Bartizan By Firkin
Simple star silhouette By Firkin
Flower By jpenrici

[wastaken]

its 1am and these videos + SparkNotes are probably the only reason i'm not gonna fail the English test i haven't studied for at 9am

[Invisible_]

Mate, you’re a life saver, these videos are perfect for exam/essay prep!

[susanna_mitchell]

My GCSEs are coming up (a week in fact!) and I have no words to describe how useful these videos have been for revision. Thank you, I hope this is a great source of success!

[wianimmelman]

Studying a night before the test this really helps me😂

[finnporter]

currently 13 hours away from gcses and with no English revision done this is where I find myself

[iamhenryspencer]

got my first english ppe tomorrow and these videos have been lifesavers

[willcook]

Another one which I think is good is when Malcolm says to Macduff: 'Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell'. Satan (Macbeth) being the 'brightest' having deceived God (Duncan - appointed by God) until he 'fell' (killed Duncan - tipped the Natural Order).

[alialogaily]

dude its 8pm and ive got an exam tomorrow, wish me luck bruh

[gracet]

Hi Dr Aidan, I was wondering if you had any resources on the symbolism/analysis of the hallucinations and apparitions within Macbeth. I just binged all your videos for my upcoming exam and they are very helpful. Thank you!

[deez]

watching this a few hours before my exam. really helped. i wish i found it earlier

[natasha]

Great vid ! more on Macbeth(play) pls :((

[Pgarca]

Kingship/authority

Gender Roles
Femininity and motherhood
The Supernatural
Manipulation and deceit (including equivocation)
Tragedy and heroism

Violence
Good vs evil
Loyalty
Fate

would be some good ones

[sciencemaster]

So helpful, sad I only found this a day b4 my exam

[nawalnavya]

Also, the theme focuses on over- ambition, something that is not acceptable or desirable in reality.

[jandose]

got my gcse mock in a week these are bloody amazing

[lilylawrence]

do you think that's bout 500 words lol