In Macbeth, William Shakespeare develops a simple story of the process which an ambitious nobleman named Macbeth turn into a ferocious tyrant, into a deep and complex drama. Shakespeare had done so by creating sophisticated themes such as appearance verses reality and fate verses free will.
Appearance versus reality is an important theme in William Shakespeare's Macbeth. The theme focuses on characters who are deceived by what appears to be and accompanied by imageries that supports this idea. Examples of imagery include Lady Macbeth's advice to Macbeth, "look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't" and Macbeth's words, "False face must hide what the false heart doth know." In Act III, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that they are, "Unsafe the while that we Must have our honours in these flattering streams, And make our faces wizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are." In Act I, when Macbeth has been told that he is now Thane of Cawdor, he comments, "nothing is but what is not." After the murder of Duncan, Malcolm whispers to Donalbain, "To show as unfelt sorrow is an office Which the false man does easy." (Act II) In the following scene Ross tells the Old Man of the strange upset in Nature, ".by the clock 'tis day And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp (that is, the sun)." In the Ghost scene (Act III,) Lady Macbeth points out to Macbeth that this Ghost (which she cannot see) is the "very painting of your fear" and "O, these flaws and starts" are just "Impostors of true fear." In Act IV, Malcolm observes to MacDuff, "Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell." He is pointing out that, although people may appear to be good, they may in reality be vicious. .
Also, imageries of clothing were also commonly used in Macbeth associated with the theme of Appearance and Reality. Macbeth's new honours do not all fit him, as they belong to someone else. A hypocrite is someone who hides his real nature under a disguise.