A Paradoxical Statement: A statement that seems to be contradictory
but that might be true when considered from a particular perspective.
“Fair
is foul and foul is fair/Hover through the fog and filthy air” – The Witches, Act I, scene I, line 12.
Step 1: Please take the time to define these terms and give examples from REAL LIFE which support these ideas. Consider one: first, the witches could be referring to the battle that just occurred: in truth, all actions on a battlefield are considered ‘fair’ because for those fighting, they must believe in the concept, however ‘foul’, that they either must kill or be killed.
Step 2: Speculate as to how this concept could apply to Macbeth's current situation?
Fair: in accordance with the rules or standards; playing by the rules in a game
ReplyDeleteFoul:Offensive to the sences; somthing could be foul smelling, tasting, or even sounding
Filthy: Disgustingly Dirty; Something could be filthy it had not been cleaned in a while, But filthy could also mean dirty as in sinful, or morally wrong.
These terms apply well to battle, because even though the acts being committed, are filthy and foul , they are also fair, because they are agreeing to fight.
2. This concept aplies to Mcbeths current situation, because though Mcbeth has followed the rules of war, he has done some very foul and filthy things. Because of these horrible acts, he has become very well known and respected.
-Drew Anderson
I agree with drew and how the acts that they are doing in the battle are cruel and almost in humane but they are agreed that these will happen in the battle so they are considered normal through the people and even heroic so the people respect Macbeth
DeleteWilson Fay
Tyler Howley
ReplyDelete1. fair-free from bias, dishonesty, and justice
foul- grossly offensive to the senses
filthy- vile, vulgar
An example of this in real life is when you feel like a test grade you got was foul, but it was graded fairly and you deserved to get that grade.
Another example would be when a sports team is considered dirty or filthy based on how they act and how hard they may foul other players on the opposing team, but nothing they do is really illegal or against the rules and its fair.
2. The concept may apply to Macbeth's situation because he does not want the title of Thane of Cawthor because there is already someone sitting the throne there so it feels like a foul thing to do.
I love the analogy you used about school. I completely agree with what you said. Some people may feel that the test grade they received was unfair, but at the same time, everyone was given the same test, and was prepared with the same amount of information. Similarly, Macbeth may be seen as foul or filthy because of the acts he committed, but everyone who is fighting has committed similar crimes.
DeleteFair means something that is free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice while foul means something that is infamous or unappealing. Comparing these two things explains how situations can appear to be good when they really aren't(or vice versa). For Macbeth, the day was both fair and foul. He was named Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and will be the KIng hereafter. Even though he does become those things, the previous Thane of Cawdor is being put to death. These events are both good and bad and create the paradox that Shakespeare uses.
ReplyDeleteExcellent support of the paradox, Shanna.
Delete1)
ReplyDeletefair: pleasing to the eye or mind especially because of fresh, charming, or flawless quality
foul: Offensive to the senses, esp. through having a disgusting smell or taste or being unpleasantly soiled.
filthy: Disgustingly dirty.
this can be used to anything that may be bad to do, but good later on ex: eating healthy bad now - good later
2) he has just killed the enemy and is the hero, but the witches are foreshadowing a bad event.
Joshua Nicholson
ReplyDeleteStep 1:
Definition:
Fair- something that is right or just, something beautiful and good
Foul- something that is wrong or bad, something disgusting and evil
Examples:
Fair- A fair person is a role model to society. They must have good qualities and must have people respect them.
Foul- A foul person would usually be an antagonist in many pieces of literature. They represent selfishness, wrongdoing, and anything evil.
Step 2:
This could apply to the concept to Macbeth's situation because he is a fair person in the eyes of Scotland now. He vanquished his foe when hope seemed lost, and he is a hero now for this. However, in the eyes of Norway and people outside of Scotland, he is seen as a bloody, murderous, and foul warrior.
I think you're right, Josh - it all depends on your perspective, right?? Nicely put.
Delete1.)fair to me is an equal playing field for all, often a set of rules in place to give everyone an equal chance. foul is often used to describe something putrid or gross, but i think in the quote it more means. it is also an antonym of fair coincidentally.i think the witches were referring not only to the equality of the battlefield and how at the same time it is also a very gruesome place. I'm not sure how it went in Shakespeare's times but foul often refers to an offense of the rules in a sport the same could also go for the battlefield.
ReplyDelete2.)when the witches refer to Macbeth's new position of power i think they are referring to the fact that he acquired this power fairly and legally but at the same time he got adorned that power by doing a very gruesome and foul thing.
Yes, totally agree; he earned the position by supporting the government and his king, but the manner in which he earned the position was "foul" for sure. Nice job, Miles.
DeleteFair means good or equal. Foul on the other hand means dirty and disgusting. Fair and foul are basically complete opposites. Filthy means generally the same as foul but more dirty. A real world example of fair is saying "the game was done fairly" - equal and fine, without any conflicts. Foul can be used to describe the smell of something - like trash or food. Filthy is usually an adjective applied to humans or animals, but can be used to describe other objects or places. In battles however are not always fair and fine, usually there is one side with the upper hand and they are best equipped for that situation.
ReplyDeleteThis concept could apply to Macbeth's situation because perhaps he fought the battle fairly at some points but in other times he fought filthy or foul. He may have wanted to clear the air of filthy conversations or rumors about the battle or himself. I believe that these three words are going to be a prominent aspect throughout the book and very much used in the air surrounding Macbeth.
I liked your different interpretaions, based on how mcbeth may want to clear the air in a way. I interpreted the saying in a war theme, like fair, what is allowed, is a foul thing (which killing people). While all things foul are fair. And i thought that maybe the air was filthy with death.
DeleteRob pulgarin in response to Sarah A.
I think fair can mean playing by the rules, being even with everyone else, or doing something in accordance with good morals. A real world example of something being fair is how when students take tests, teachers make sure students don't cheat so everyone has an equal and fair chance of getting a good grade. Foul and filthy are words that are usually associated with bad or evil things.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of something being foul and fair at the same time can apply to Macbeth because he is on a battlefield, where he is clearly doing a foul thing by slashing away enemies by the dozens. At the same time, however he is doing a fair thing by participating in battle in a fair way, without any unfair advantage over the enemies and he is also killing for a good cause, rather than committing senseless slaughter.
1.)Fair- Equal, good, or right
ReplyDeleteFoul- offensive, wrong, or bad
A fair person knows what is right to do and whether they should do it or not and it could also mean they do things equally like have an equal fight. A foul person does wrong and harsh things even though they know it is wrong.
2.)This applies to Macbeth's situation because it was a fair battle but it was a foul thing to kill others.
fair means that everyone has an equal playing field free from bias. Foul is anything that is not fair and marked with bias. The witches mean that the way they run things is opposite from the world and macbeth will do anything necessary to become king.
ReplyDelete--Brian Heffernan
In my opinion, what witches find foul is fair to humans and what humans find foul is fair to witches. Obviously, witches are evil, so they believe in the opposite of humans. However, I think that this quote is referring to something deeper. I think that it is referring to the battle that just took place. The battle is fair. There is equality, no team has an advantage over the other other than the fact one side may be better trained. It's not an ambush. It's a head to head battle which makes it fair, but at the same time, it's foul because it is a battle. Nobody wants a battle because that usually always results in the lose of life on both sides. The events that occur in battle are foul, however, they are fair.
ReplyDelete1) Fair: means equal power,or playing by the rules so everyone has equal abilities
ReplyDelete2) foul: means bad, evil, disruptive behavior, unequal power
I think that the witches and the humans have a different interpretation of fair and foul behavior. The witches seem foul to the humans, because the humans think its an aweful and evil thing to do to kill someone over chestnuts. The humans are also fearful of the witches because of their power. Macbeth is concerned because the witches seem to be more powerful than him. At the same time, the witches think the humans hae foul behavior, for example when the wife of the sailer wouldn't give her any chestnuts. Theirfore, the witch though the human should pay for what she had done. The power is unbalanced between the humans and the witches.
Fair- Playing by the rules, doing this the right way
ReplyDeleteFoul- opposite of fair, the wrong way to do something, possibly offensive
Filthy- Dirty, deplorable and very messy
These words go well with describing war, though the terms foul
and filthy can be attached to acts of violence, they are still considered fair on the battle field because its every man for himself and survival of the fittest.
2. This idea compares well to Macbeth's situation because though he was done awful foul and filthy things on the battlefield he proved his bravery as a warrior and gained respect for it.
Fair = Good, pretty, nice, etc. Foul = Dark, mean, opposite of good, not right (wrong), etc. People seem to have summed it up well.
ReplyDeleteThese terms are used a lot within the first few acts of this story/play. They apply to Macbeth because he is a killer, but a warrior. Warrior and killer both imply killing but a warrior, much like a soldier, would not usually be seen as foul. Macbeth would be considered fair to many people because he fought/fights for a cause, whereas a killer just kills to kill.
Fair: marked by impartiality and honesty (the game was not favorited toward one side or another)
ReplyDeleteFoul:offensive to the senses (the garbage smelled bad)
Filthy:covered with, containing, or characterized by filth (covered in mud)
2. Fair is foul could mean that the king position could go to anyone who is the strongest and wants it most. Doing anything to get the crown would be both fair and foul. The filthy air could be how you would feel after gaining that role by harming the other person.