Themes in Macbeth Shakespeare’s Macbeth, is the story of a murder and a usurper. Macbeth is a noble man. Unfortunately, he chooses betrayal and crime, knows them for what they are, and is completely aware he is doing evil. Evil is consistently distributed throughout the play, and plays a large role in each character. However, there are more themes portrayed all through Macbeth. Three of the main themes found in Macbeth are, appearance versus reality, gender expectations, and guilt. To begin, a theme found in Macbeth is appearance versus reality. Appearance versus reality is portrayed when Macbeth sees a virtual dagger floating in front of him just before he is due to murder King Duncan. Macbeth is hallucinating and cannot believe what he sees as he says, “Is this a dagger which I see before me, /the handle toward my hand?” (II.i.33-34). The dagger, covered in blood and pointing towards the king’s chamber, represents the bloody deed on which Macbeth is about to embark on. Although Macbeth is not physically capable of grasping the dagger, it leads him to think that he must kill the king. Another time appearance versus reality is demonstrated, is when Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth to give their guests a warm welcome to their feast, hiding their rugged looks of murder and evil. Lady Macbeth informs Macbeth to act without a worry by saying, “And make our faces vizards to our hearts, /Disguising what they are” (III.ii.34-35). In reality, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth use their appearances as convenient masks to suit the incidence and avoid the look of suspicion. Hiding their true appearances is a constant theme between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. A third time appearance versus reality is characterized during the play is when Macbeth meets the apparitions for the second time. He takes their prophecies to exactly what they appear as, and believes them to be assurances. The