macbeth quotes Flashcards
(6 cards)
Macbeth Act 1, Scene 4
Stars…
“Stars hide your fires; let not light see my dark and deep desires”.
Themes: ambition, violence, supernatural and deception.
The noun phrase “stars, hide your fires” shows that Macbeth wishes to remain in complete darkness and invisible, so that his “deep desires” can not be observed.
- Metaphors of “light” and “dark” - “dark” stands for Macbeths moral unscrupulousness.
- “Light” is personified to be an active agent that can “see” into desires; possibly a supernatural force that scrutunizes human actions.
- Macbeth may believe in a God-like figure who will judge his actions. His concern does not lie with views of other human beings, just for the supernatural - showing his impending allegiance to the supernatural - shows his guilt complex.
Macbeth Act 1, Scene 7
I have no…
“I have no spur, to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on the other”.
Themes: ambition
• Verb “spur” - shows clear impetus for committing the murder
- Noun phrase “vaulting ambition” - more generalised. Macbeth is keenly aware of his motivations and is not instantly convinced by the desire.
- “prick the sides” - it is a narrow stimulus; and has a direct casual effect on his intent.
Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2
Will all great…
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand”.
The key thing to remember in relation to this quote is that Shakespeare uses blood as a metaphor for guilt. Macbeth uses this quote to say that he is so guilty that he is covered in blood, which could also represent the blood of his victims. He feels that even if he washed his hands in the ocean they would not be clean, as because of the amount of blood on his hands he is more likely to make the ocean turn red.
Macbeth Act 3 Scene 4
“I am in blood, steeped in so far, that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er”.
Steeped is the key verb in this quote, as Macbeth feels that the blood has steeped into his body and into his soul, so will remain there forever. Yet this quote also shows that the decisions Macbeth has made have led him to this point, yet if he doesn’t continue to hold onto power it would have all been for nothing. The adjective tedious has many meanings, including tiresome, and boring, this is to show that his actions will be pointless if he stops now.
Macbeth Act 1 Scene 7
I dare do all…
“I dare do all that may become a man”
Themes: Gender, ambition
• Verb “dare” - presents manhood as adventurous
- noun phrase “who dares do more” - Macbeth describes manhood as a limit for actions whereas Lady Macbeth wants to use it for a justification for more action.
- Lady Macbeth wants to rid her feminism to become almost a “man” but still commands Macbeth to keep his masculinity. Lady Macbeth sees manhood as an equivalent to making rash actions and cruelty, even though it is shown to stem from the supernatural. = used mainly for manipulation of Macbeth.
- Macbeth defines manhood in terms of composure and calm intent.
Macbeth Act 2 Scene 1
Is this a…
“Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.
Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going;
And such an instrument I was to use.”
• The soliloquy is the opening to the first signs of Macbeth’s insanity. He possesses an inability to distinguish between an hallucinations and reality does not restrict him to “clutch” either dagger.
- Adjective “heat-opressed” - realises this vision is diminishing his sanity. However, contrasted with the further adjective “palpable” - comparing it to his own physical sword.
- Echoes witches earlier paradox “Fair is foul and foul is fair” - In a sense, the “foul” vision is actually “fair” that it is a representation of accurate reality (Macbeth’s plot to kill Duncan)
- Verb “draw” - when Macbeth draws his sword, it shows that it has a casual effect on his actions, making them seem rational. Shakespeare presents false visions not as figments of the imagination but capable of inducing changes to reality itself.
