macbeth quote context Flashcards
(7 cards)
“for brave macbeth- well he deserves that name”
after scotland declares victory in a battle against norway. The captain praises Macbeths success on the battlefield to king duncan who rewards him with the title, thane of cawdor. This is shown in act one scene two when the captain states
“stars hide your fires let not light see your black and deep desires”
after macbeth recieves the supernatural prophecy from the three witches. The witches predict he will be titled “thane of cawdor” and become king. Although macbeth dismisses them at first he soon discovers one has become true and questions if he should act upon taking the throne. We can see this in act one scene five
“i have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition which o’rleap itsself and falls on th’other”
Macbeth decided to ignore his wicked ideas but his callous wife, lady macbeth tries to manipulate him to act upon them. She believes the prophecy will come true immediately if they murder the king which provokes macbeths ambition once again. This can be seen in act one scene seven when macbeth states
“to be thus is nothing but to be safely thus, our fears in banquo stick deep”
after macbeth successfully overtakes the throne but isnt fully satisfied. Macbeths powerful decision to murder the king was a success, however his friend banquo becomes suspicious of him. out of paranoia that banquo will expose his crime he hires people to murder him. we can see macbeths anxiety become apparent in act three scene one
“what does the tyrant?”
in act five scene two when sottish lords are discussing the approaching english army who are out to kill macbeth. The lords talk about their shared hatred for macbeth and how he is an undesireable ruler due to his suspected murders. one of the lords, menteith, says.
“this dead-butcher and his fiend-like queen”
after macbeths murder, macduff and malcolm discuss how terrible and awful he and his wife were. this is seen in act five scene nine when malcolm says:
