The expression suggests the themes of paradox, and of things not being what they appear to be.
"Fair is foul and foul is fair. Hover in the fog and filthy air."
That's a line from Macbeth. Yes, the witches in Macbeth say the line "Fair is foul and foul is fair" in Act 1 Scene 1. The whole line is "Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air". Why do they say it? Who knows, it's a witchy thing. But it does help set up a theme of moral ambiguity, of appearance not matching reality, which is a theme throughout the play. Some have argued that it is essentially what the play is all about.
"Fair is foul and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air"
The saying, 'Fair is foul and foul is fair,' carries the general meaning of 'things are all mixed up.' It is typically used to denote a situation where conventional moral rules or guidelines are being used or interpreted in a contradictory or even immoral way.
Macbeth
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair" from Act 1, Scene 1 of Macbeth captures the theme of deception and appearance vs. reality. It sets the tone for the play by showing that things are not always as they seem.
it is a metaphore saying that everything that is foul (bad) was meant to be taht way. and everything that is fair is meant to be decieving and foul
Fair
The phrase "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" sets the tone for scene one in Macbeth. This line suggests that things are not what they seem and foreshadows the theme of deception and moral ambiguity that will be prevalent throughout the play.
There are lines placed to divide the foul territory and the fair territory. Any ball that lands on the foul territory will be called foul. When the ball enters the fair territory, ball is at play.
The first sound typically heard in the play Macbeth is the three witches chanting, "Fair is foul and foul is fair."
Usually fair is given as the antonym for foul, as in foul play, foul weather, etc. There are many others, however, as there are several definitions of foul to begin with.
The line "fair is foul and foul is fair" sets the tone for the theme of deception and appearance versus reality in the act. It foreshadows the witches' ambiguous nature and their ability to manipulate perceptions. Additionally, it hints at the moral ambiguity and reversals that will occur throughout the story, highlighting the idea that things are not as they seem.
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair" is perhaps one of the most significant lines in Macbeth. It is a juxtapose (an idea that contradicts itself) and it is used to foreshadow the fact that characters in the play who seem to be good and righteous (Macbeth) may actually be tainted or evil, and vice versa.
Apex 1.2.3 Quiz) Fair is foul, and foul is fair.
The three witches recite this line at the beginning of the play (Macbeth reiterates it later in the play). They also recite "toil and trouble, Cauldron boil and cauldron bubble."