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  1. Learn the meaning and context of the famous line from Macbeth, "fair is foul and foul is fair", which expresses the inversion of values and the corruption of evil. See how the play explores the theme of good and evil through characters, imagery and language.

  2. Learn the meaning and origin of this famous quotation from Shakespeare's Macbeth, spoken by the Witches and later echoed by Macbeth himself. Find out how it foreshadows the play's theme of corruption and the overturning of natural order.

    • Origin of Fair Is Foul, Foul Is Fair
    • Meaning of Fair Is Foul, Foul Is Fair
    • Usage of Fair Is Foul, Foul Is Fair
    • Literary Source of Fair Is Foul, Foul Is Fair
    • Literary Analysis of Fair Is Foul, Foul Is Fair
    • Literary Devices
    • GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec

    This phrase pervades Shakespeare’s entire play, Macbeth, reminding the audience they need to look deeper in order to understand the thoughts and actions of the characters. Though it first appears in the beginning in the twelfth line of Act I, Scene I, uttered by witches as “Fair is foul, foul is fair,” it lasts throughout the story with recurring t...

    The meaning of this motifis quite obvious in the very first act. Simply, it means that appearances are often deceptive, and that things are different from what they appear to be. This line also points towards the play’s concern with the inconsistency between appearance and reality. Though it is a knotty and difficult idea, nevertheless it suggests ...

    This phrase is very tricky, which we find in literature, media, political speeches, and everyday life. Many people use it as a paradox to criticize one’s double standards and dual personalities that have contradicted in appearance and reality. We can often see its best usage against public servants and politicians who present their dual personaliti...

    Since witches are creatures of devil and night, and they like “foul” and dislike “fair,” they sing this phrase in Act I- Scene I of the play, Macbethas: (Macbeth,Act I- Scene I, 12-13) Later, Macbethalso uses it as, “So fair and foul a day I have not seen.” The day is fair because he wins the war, and foul due to the loss of so many lives and storm...

    The first time we hear this phrase is in the opening scene, where witches utter this phrase in the twelfth line of Act I, Scene I, in order to trap Macbeth by predicting his future falsely. Then Macbeth uses the phrase, and later it echoes on different occasions with different meanings. Simply, for witches it means whatever is fair to a common man ...

    Symbolism: The witches are symbolic of foul, but give fair advice, and Macbeth outwardly appears to be a hero, but inwardly he is a coward and a plotter.
    Consonance: It is a very good use of consonance“f”, as fair, foul, foul, fair shows mastery of the playwright.

    Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the paradoxical phrase "fair is foul, foul is fair" from Shakespeare's play Macbeth. See how it relates to the themes of deception, appearance, and reality in the story.

  3. “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” means that appearances can be deceiving, a theme that runs throughout Macbeth. That which seems “fair” and good is actually “foul” and evil. The best example of...

  4. Read the first scene of Macbeth, where the witches chant "fair is foul, and foul is fair" and name Macbeth as their target. Learn about the dramatic genius, the metre, the figures of speech, and the sources of Shakespeare's play.

  5. Read the original text and translation of Macbeth's first scene, where three witches meet and greet their familiars. The witches say "fair is foul, and foul is fair" as they fly off through the fog and filthy air.

  6. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair: / Hover through the fog and filthy air" (1.1.11-12), chant the Weird Sisters as they go to wait for the battle to be over so they can deliver their seductive prophesies to Macbeth. [Scene Summary]

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