In a world gripped by fear many will do any and everything to survive and to rule. Fear can become strong enough to take over and completely change a man’s demeanor. In some cases fear is an influence and a big factor in why individuals feel the need to act out of their character. This reliance in character may even include one to fake their true feelings and even lie. One of the major motifs that occurs in The Tragedy of Macbeth written by William Shakespeare is false faces and the effect it has on a characters conscience and overall manner that may change from a heart good heart to one of evil.

In this tragic play Shakespeare gives the readers a good sense of the true characteristics of each individual in the play. Macbeth, the main character in the play, is easily tempted into some evil schemes to please his ambitions to take the throne of Scotland. These false faces begin to occur in this play as Lady Macbeth charms King Duncan and fooling him into believing that she is just an innocent maiden that she seems to display. Lady Macbeth is the prime individual who tempts Macbeth into killing the king. Lady Macbeth explains to Macbeth “…look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (1.5.62). In this part of the play is where the readers really see Lady Macbeth’s true colors as she convinces Macbeth to follow through with their evil plan. After being named the new Thane of Cawdor Macbeth becomes greedy for these positions of power. His ambition begins to overpower his conscience of goodness. Macbeth eventually once persuaded by Lady Macbeth comes to a conclusion that the quickest way to the throne is to kill King Duncan. Furthermore Lady Macbeth is represented as a false figure in this play because of her manipulative and deceiving characteristics. 

Power itself can seem so precious and to Macbeth it was worth killing for, to gain this rule and to not worry about what was standing in his way. Macbeth murdered many good men all for one purpose to please his ambitious greed and by fear he achieved this with the false faced lies. During the 11th century Scotland and England, Shakespeare wanted to incorporate many aspects into this tragedy. One which involved the occurrence of false faces which was shown throughout the play as a motif backed by fear.