macbeth Flashcards
(34 cards)
Banquo: But ‘tis strange. And Oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In Deepest consequences.” (1.3.134-138)
Act: 1
Theme: Appearance vs. Reality
Explanation: Banquo warns that
evil forces may tell truths to deceive.
Things that seem honest can actually lead to betrayal and harm, showing how appearances can be misleading.
“Macbeth: If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me Without my stir.” (1.3.157-159)
Act: 1
Theme: Fate vs. Free Will
Paraphrase: Macbeth suggests that maybe luck or fate will make him king without him having to do anything.
Explanation: Macbeth suggests that fate might make him king naturally, raising questions about whether his rise is due to destiny or his own actions.
“Duncan: There’s no art To find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built An absolute trust.” (1.4.13-16)
Act: 1
Theme: Appearance vs. Reality
Paraphrase: Duncan basically trusted someone based on appearance and got betrayed
never judge a book by its cover appearances can be deceiving !!
“Macbeth: That is a step On which I must fall down or else o’erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.” (1.4.55-58)
Act: 1
Theme: Ambition / Inner Conflict
Explanation: Macbeth admits he’s contemplating evil deeds and wants to hide his dark thoughts, highlighting internal conflict and dangerous ambition.
“Lady Macbeth: Your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters…. Look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under ‘t.” (1.5.73-74; 76-77)
Act: 1
Theme: Appearance vs. Reality
Paraphrase: Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to look innocent but conceal his evil plans and intentions underneath.
*appearances can be deceiving
“I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on th’ other.” (1.7.25-28)
Act: 1
Theme: Ambition / Moral Consequences
Paraphrase: Macbeth has no strong reason to kill Duncan except his own excessive ambition, which can cause him to overreach and fall.
Explanation: Macbeth recognizes that his only motivation is ambition, which can be dangerous because it might lead to his downfall if he oversteps.
“I am settled and bend up Each coporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show. False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” (1.7.92-96)
Act: 1
Theme:
Appearance vs. Reality
Paraphrase: Macbeth is determined to his plan and
emphasizes hiding his true emotions behind a fake appearance. (FAKE FACE)
“Macbeth: Now o’er the one-half world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtained sleep. Witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecate’s off’rings, and withered murder, Alarrumed by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl’s his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost.” (2.1.61-69)
Act: 2
Figurative Language: Simile
- murder moving “like a ghost,”
- stealthy and sinister nature.
- moving quietly and sneakily toward its goal.
Macbeth describes the world as being dead and filled with evil dreams,
“Macbeth: —the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, Chief nourisher in life’s feast.” (2.2.48-52)
Act: 2
Figurative Language: Metaphor
Explanation: Macbeth describes
sleep as a “second course” and “balm,”
= nourishing food and medicine,
highlighting its restorative power after a long hard day
“Lady Macbeth: Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures.” (2.2.69-71)
Act: 2
Figurative Language: Simile
Explanation: lady compares the dead and sleeping people to “pictures,” saying they are lifeless images, which makes it easier to emotionally handle the crime.
“Macbeth: Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?” (2.2.78-79)
Act: 2
Figurative Language: Hyperbole
Explanation: Macbeth
exaggerates that even all of Neptune’s ocean couldn’t wash away his guilt, showing he feels overwhelmed by remorse.
Paraphrase: Macbeth asks if even all the ocean could cleanse the guilt he feels from killing Duncan.
“Macduff: Confusion now hath made this masterpiece. Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord’s anointed temple and stole thence The life o’ th’ building.” (2.3.76-79)
Act: 2
Figurative Language: Metaphor
Explanation: Duncan is called “the Lord’s anointed temple,” and his murder is likened to breaking open a sacred temple, emphasizing its sacrilege.
Paraphrase: Macduff describes Duncan as a sacred temple anointed by God, and his murder as a terrible act that destroys something holy.
“Macbeth: Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed time; for from this instant There’s nothing serious in mortality. All is but toys. Renown and grace is dead. The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of.” (2.3.107-112)
Act: 2
Figurative Language: Metaphor & Imagery
Explanation: Macbeth compares life to wine, with “the wine of life” being drawn and only “lees” left, representing emptiness and despair.
Paraphrase: Macbeth feels life has lost its meaning;
all that’s left is the leftover sediment, and he feels empty and hopeless.
“Donalbain: What is amiss?” / Macbeth: “You are, and do not know ‘t. The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopped; the very source of it is stopped.” (2.3.113-116)
Act: 2
Figurative Language: Metaphor
Macbeth compares Duncan’s death –> spring being stopped,
- symbolizing the loss of vitality and life in Scotland.
” Duncan’s death is like a spring drying up”
- the source of life and strength is gone, and the country is now in trouble.
“Donalbain: Where we are, There’s daggers in men’s smiles. The near in blood, The nearer bloody.” / Malcolm: “This murderous shaft that’s shot Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way Is to avoid the aim.” (2.3.164-169)
Act: 2
Figurative Language: Idiom & Metaphor
Explanation: “Daggers in men’s smiles” is an idiom meaning people who seem friendly may secretly be dangerous.
- Malcolm refers to danger as a “murderous shaft” (arrow), a metaphor for imminent threat.
- ” people who look friendly might secretly be dangerous, and that they should stay away to avoid harm.”
“Ross: By th’ clock ‘tis day, And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp.” (2.4.8-9)
Act: 2
Figurative Language: Personification / Metaphor
Explanation: Darkness “strangles” the sun, personifying night as an entity choking out the light, symbolizing chaos and unnaturalness.
Paraphrase: Ross describes how it’s daytime but the sky is dark like night, showing that unnatural things are happening.
“MacDuff: Well, may you see things well done there. Adieu, Lest our old robes sit easier than our new.” (2.4.52-53)
Act: 2
Figurative Language: Metaphor
Explanation: “Old robes” and “new robes” are metaphors for familiar and unfamiliar circumstances, indicating change and adaptation.
Paraphrase: Macduff wishes that they adjust to new situations, even if old routines seem easier.
(1.3.134-138)
Theme: Appearance vs. Reality
(1.3.157-159)
Theme: Fate vs. Free Will
(1.4.13-16)
Theme: Appearance vs. Reality
(1.4.55-58)
Theme: Ambition / Inner Conflict
(1.5.73-74; 76-77)
Theme: Appearance vs. Reality
(1.7.25-28)
Theme: Ambition / Moral Consequences
(1.7.92-96)
Theme:
Appearance vs. Reality
