Appearance Vs. Reality in Macbeth

Shakespeare presents reality as deceptive through the use of similes.

• In Act I, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to "look like the innocent flower/But be the serpent undert't" thus suggesting that he should not act upon truth but illusion. 
• One might suggest the noun "flower" portrays ideas of softness, purity and personal growth which contrasts to Macbeth's thriving evil, for he has intentions on committing regicide.  
• The simile does not assert exactly of what Macbeth will be like which creates an effect of uncertainty.
• Moreover, the "serpent" may refer to temptation as it may be a religious symbol for the story in Genesis, Adam and Eve are tempted by the serpent, like how Macbeth was tempted by the witches. Thus, Shakespeare creatures a daunting effect towards the witches and may suggest that they may be diabolical and dangerous which would have created fear for both a contemporary and modern audience, for both a Jacobean audience and modern one would have quite a grand awareness of the story in Genesis. 
• Moreover, King James I's escape from being blown up in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was commemorated by a medal embellished with a snake concealed by flower. King James I was a patron for Shakespeare's Theatre Company so his intent would have been to please the monarch and add a sense of secrecy in the play thus one might suggest the appearance of reality therefore seems very vague in the play in order to please King James, a patron for Shakespeare's Theatre Company. King James had a great interest in witches, having had written a book ('Daemonologie') on his finds. 
• Moreover, in Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth says "pity, like a newborn naked babe". The use of "newborn" suggests how Macbeth's is aware of his innocence (ideas associated with the bible and being pure from sin) before committing regicide and insinuates how reality and appearance differ and is therefore deceitful. The use of the simile allows the audience to feel ambivalent over Macbeth's direction of thought as Shakespeare relies on the audience to draw on their own interpretation by the meaningfulness of a simile and this range of interpretation may reflect on Macbeth's possibility to of thought, which presents his thoughtful manner.

Shakespeare presents reality is dangerous through the motif of death.

• In Act II, Scene II, Lady Macbeth says "it was the owl that shrieked".  
• The use of "shrieked" could exemplify that Lady Macbeth's husband and she is excited and nervous about the regicide they are about to commit to. 
• Moreover, in Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth chants for the "thick night" and to take her "milk for gall".
•  One might suggest the imagery of "night" conveys death as the lack of colour in the darkness of night, brings death.
•  "Night" is also symbolic of when humans sleep which is when they are mostly inactive thus reflecting on how humans seem when they are dead: completely inactive. 
• The motif of death insinuates to the audience the it is a central theme to the play which creates an ominous effect as who is going to die is inestimable but death happening is estimable which creates a feeling of unease for the audience. 
• The "owl" is also a bird of prey which can be a euphemism of Duncan have been murdered, as it was the Macbeth's 'prey'. The recurring themes of death could build a sense of insecurity for the audience which worsens as the King commits regicide, as a Jacobean audience would have often perceived the King as God's representative.
•  The motif of death, therefore, reminds the audience that Shakespeare is breaking ideas about the sanctity of life, and he is breaking the rules of Christianity which would have shocked the audience and created a sense of thrill. 
• Committing regicide would have been seen as a completely immoral and illicit act which suggests Shakespeare wanted the audience to see the dangers of the reality of the play (Macbeth's urgency to commit regicide), through the motif building up a sense of fear in the audience.

You could also make the same point but how Shakespeare uses a lexical field of birds.

• In addition, the Old Man reckons other unnatural events have been immanent, like a "falcon" being "killed" by an "owl".

BBC Bitesize says: "The Old Man answers that other unnatural things have been happening, too: "On Tuesday last, / A falcon, towering in her pride of place, / Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd" (2.4.11-13). The falcon's "pride of place" is the highest point of its flight. And the owl, which usually catches mice on the ground, went up instead of down, and killed a falcon. Also, a falcon is a day creature, and a royal companion, while the owl is an untamable bird of night and death. If things in nature stands for things in human life, King Duncan was the falcon, and Macbeth the owl. "