Macbeth key quotes

Question 1

“look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it”

Answer 1

lady Macbeth
appearance vs reality
power of lady Macbeth
act 1 scene 5
influences on Macbeth

Question 2

had he not resembled my father as he slept I had done it

Answer 2

lady Macbeth
act 2 scene 2
sign of weakness in her
change ??

Question 3

be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed

Answer 3

Macbeth
plans to murder banquo
won’t tell lady Macbeth
speaking down to her - breakdown in relationship

Question 4

is this a dagger which I see before me

Answer 4

Macbeth
act 2 scene 1
guilt or supernatural

Question 5

spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here

Answer 5

lady Macbeth
supernatural
evil spirits - take femininity
defying gender roles and stereotypes

Question 6

o full of scorpions is my mind

Answer 6

act 3 scene 2
Macbeth
guilt - unable to quote

Question 7

a cry of women within (stage direction)

Answer 7

lady Macbeth dies off stage
powerful but dies off stage
act 5

Question 8

so foul and fair a day I have not seen

Answer 8

act 1 scene 3
mirror the witches
Macbeth

Question 9

brave Macbeth well he deserves that name

Answer 9

act 1
talking about Macbeth in battle

Question 10

what he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won

Answer 10

foreshadows that Macbeth will also turn against the king like the thane of Cawdor did but the king is too naive to think so

Question 11

the instruments of darkness tell us truths

Answer 11

everything that happens in the darkness may be hidden to the other characters but reveals what really happens to the audience

Question 12

when you durst do it then you were a man

Answer 12

lady Macbeth doesn’t believe Macbeth is acting masculine and he should be killing Duncan and he shouldn’t be scared

Question 13

will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hands

Answer 13

guilt
supernatural
deaths
blood
Macbeth

Question 14

a little water clears us of this deed - a2
out damned spot out I say - a5

Answer 14

lady Macbeth in a2 vs lady Macbeth in a5
shows change in guilt
character arc

Question 15

here comes the good macduff

Answer 15

Macbeths foil

Question 16

what’s done is done

Answer 16

they cannot change what has happened
repetition
guilt
betrayal
Macbeth

Question 17

enter banquo and fleance with a torch

Answer 17

light
appearance vs reality
darkness v light
banquo doing things in light and Macbeth doing things in dark

Question 18

let not light see my deep and dark desires

Answer 18

Macbeth
foil to banquo
appearance vs reality
light motif

Question 19

are you a man

Answer 19

lady Macbeth questioning Macbeths masculinity again

Question 20

beware macduff

Answer 20

adds to Macbeths paranoia
Macbeths new foil after banquo gets murdered
seek revenge as his family were murdered

Question 21

bleed bleed poor country great tyranny

Answer 21

scotland is doomed as Macbeth as a leader

Question 22

what is a traitor
one that swears and lies

Answer 22

Macbeth lies
kingship

Question 23

she should have died hereafter

Answer 23

macbeth wanted a different timing so it wasn’t as awkward for him and he could grief properly and focus on battle first

Question 24

tyrant show thy face

Answer 24

macbeth is known as a tyrant

Question 25

ill fight from my bones till my flesh be hack’d

Answer 25

macbeth will stay fighting from the beginning until the end and only his ambition will change him