The Only Use of
artificial
in
Macbeth
- Upon the corner of the moon
There hangs a vaporous drop profound.
I'll catch it ere it come to ground.
And that, distilled by magic sleights,
Shall raise such artificial sprites,
As, by the strength of their illusion,
Shall draw him on to his confusion.p. 111.9artificial = deceptive (not sincere)editor's notes: The witch goddess's lines could be paraphrased as: "On the edge of the moon hangs a deep, mysterious drop. I'll catch it before it falls. Using magical tricks to strengthen it. I'll summon deceptive spirits that, through their powerful illusions, will confuse him."
Definitions:
-
(1)
(artificial as in: an artificial heart) made by humans -- often to replace something that can be found in nature
-
(2)
(artificial as in: an artificial smile) not sincere, pretended, or designed to impress