Shakespeare has used honesty and dishonesty as a motif through the whole of Macbeth. He has crafted some of his characters to epitomize dishonesty (Macbeth and Lady Macbeth) and he has also used some of the other 'minor' characters such as Macduff and Lennox, to fight against the dishonesty of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
The Introduction of Dishonesty
The first instance of dishonesty is shown in Act 1 Scene 1 as the witches, although truthful in what they say, are dishonest creatures as they are part of the supernatural realm and witchcraft and the supernatural were severely frowned upon during the Jacobean era that Macbeth was written in. Shakespeare has first introduced the idea of dishonesty through the introduction of the 3 witches. The witches have been seen to equivocate to conceal the whole truth. This is seen in "when the battle is lost and won", which cements the idea in the minds of the Jacobean audience that the witches are not to be trusted.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's Dishonesty
Shakespeare has used the actions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to show their dishonesty. When "a loud knocking from within" sounds just after they have killed King Duncan, it is clear to see that Lady Macbeth becomes flushed and does not want to lay guilt on herself, so she starts ordering Macbeth to "get on your [his] nightgown" as though pretending to have slept through the night and not knowing anything that happened. This portrays Lady Macbeth as dishonest and disloyal.
Honesty in Contrast
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are the antithesis of Macduff and Lennox when it comes down to honesty. Whilst Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are disloyal and dishonest, Macduff and Lennox have been utilized by Shakespeare to be the bearers of justice and to bring down the dishonest and the disloyal.
Conclusion
To conclude, Shakespeare's intentions were to show the audience that even if you cover everything up, sooner or later the truth will be uncovered. Honesty and loyalty are more respectable than merely your standing in society. Macbeth exam questions and model answers can further delve into the themes of honesty and dishonesty in the play. For those studying Macbeth, Macbeth questions and answers pdfs are available for revision and practice.
