Macbeth Flashcards
Through Macbeth, Shakespeare may be suggesting that ambition can lead to your downfall and he may be critiquing society on their perception that only power can make you a ‘real man’ (5)
“No spur to prick the sides of my intent But only my vaulting ambition”
“Seeds of time”
“Why chance may crown me”
“tyrant”
“To be thus is nothing. But to be safely thus”
Human nature is corrupted through the excessive persist of knowledge. This is shown through Macbeth’s obsession with prophecies, ultimately leading to his downfall. (3)
Macbeth is driven by the witches prophecies and is scared of Banquo power “they hail’d him father to a line of kings”
After hearing the prophecies he asks “would they had stay’d”, “seed” of ambition has been planted in his mind.
Magnified by Macbeth’s foil, Banquo as he’s more sceptical to the witches “neither beg nor fear your favours”
Macbeth’s foil Banquo shows he’s a bad person
“Neither beg not fear your favours”-“would they had stay’d”
“Tyrant”
Macbeth is shown to be barabaric
“Smoked with bloody excecution”
“Vaulers minion”
“Bellonas bidegroom”
Macbeth is seen to be selfish (3)
In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth proves that selfishness is dangerous as it results in the hurt of other people and their lives.
Macbeth does not want to follow through with the murder to keep his hands free of blood and live a happy prosperous life. “If it were done quickly when tis done, then’ twere well it were done quickly”
This is selfish as he wants something but won’t do it himself “give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls” which results in someone else’s life being ruined
Quotes to show Macbeth’s descend into madness (3)
“Daggers of the mind”
“Is it a knife that stands before me”
“Bloody business”
