Macbeth quotes Flashcards
“When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning, or in rain” -Witches
Pathetic fallacy, eerie. The witches rhyme and setting seems other worldly/supernatural. Their speech sounds fluent, like it’s planned-are they omniscient? It also sounds like a spell is being cast. Planning to meet in bad weather also seems sinister. Shakespeare would usually reserve rhyme for major characters, so this could show their importance. The fact that this line opens the play foreshadows the future events that will happen.
Brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name -Captain
“Brave”- adjective suggesting he puts his country first when in battle, and is also the desired masculine quality of the time.
“Deserves” - verb suggesting those speaking about him admire and revere his behaviour, and this is not the first time that he has behaved this way in battle
“name”- noun suggesting that people always put ‘Macbeth’ and ‘brave’ together
Shakespeare is inferring that fighting for your country is an important quality, this would be to show respect to King James |
The revolt (battle) is symbolic; it’s a metaphor for the consequences of overambition. The thane of Cawdor’s death could foreshadow Macbeth’s demise/downfall
so foul anf fair a day i have not seen -Macbeth
links to the witches saying “fair is foul and foul is fair”. is his fate already sealed?
(aside)…chance may crown me without stir -Macbeth
sneaky. first signs of Macbeth turning evil. shows that dangers of ambition
stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires
contrast or juxtaposition of light and dark is a recurring motif in the play presenting how Macbeth uses darkness to try and hide his deceit.
Rhyming couplets-sounds planned and calculated like the witches imperative could show power building and “let not” could show his desire to be deceptive.
verb “hide” sounds sneaky and conniving.
also, the darkness adds to the deceit and sneakiness.
noun phrase “black and deep desires” sounds sinister too; shows his evil intentions
adjective “black” shows darkness and evil. also hints at the supernatural, perhaps he knows his intentions are wrong.
adjective “deep” could show his ambition has always been there.
abstract noun “desires” sounds lustful
“stars” also link to fate and destiny
i fear thy nature; it is too full o’th’milk of human kindness -Lady Macbeth
metaphor- presents that the relationship is unbalanced; M seems to care more for LM than she cares for him. Shows she is critical of him
the verb “fear” shows that LM is concerned that M is too weak to become king
metaphor/noun “milk” represents human goodness and the nurturing qualities that she believe M has; this contrasts with her later speech about killing her own child.
noun “human” juxtaposes her own attempts to ally herself with the supernatural
epistolic- importance of letters. she uses Macbeth’s letter to push/manipulate him
lady Macbeth’s soliloquy;
“unsex me here, and fill me from the toe to the crown topfull of direst cruelty..”
all of LM’s soliloquy is important! it shows how evil she is. Imperative “unsex me” shows her desire to be masculine- a sign of power in a patriarchal society. (can talk about the prefix un- as well)
superlative “direst” shows her evilness; she wants to be pure evil, the worst.
your face, my thane, is a book where men read strange matters -LM
this links to Duncan earlier saying “there’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face” as Duncan knows faces can hide inner feelings. LM is wanting M’s face to deceive. Could show her manipulative skills. Ironic as she refers to him as “my thane”, showing respect and subordination (he’s more important) yet she’s controlling him
bloody instructions…return to plague the inventor -Macbeth
Macbeth foreshadowing his own demise. Noun phrase “bloody instructions” could show he’s being controlled but he’s also aware they come back to bite you
i have no spur to prick…only ambition, which overleaps itself and falls -Macbeth
Macbeth has little desire to do it other than ambition yet he’s aware that ambition makes people rush into mistakes and disaster- ironic. Verb “falls” shows the downfall of overambition. Verb “prick” could suggest his sinister ambition could fade if he thought about it properly (as it is all very rushed) as “prick” is a short feeling
we will proceed no further -Macbeth
imperative; Macbeth’s last attempt to assert power and refuse to do what he knows is wrong
live a coward -Lady Macbeth
LM manipulates him again. “coward” contrasts with “brave” from the beginning; a huge insult to a man’s masculinity and honour. She goes onto suggest she’d kill a baby; “dashed the brains out” if she said she would-implying only cowards don’t follow through on their words/promises
deed -Macbeth
both M and LM speak in short utterances (stichomythia) showing their guilt and perhaps the start of their mental struggles
worthy thane, you do unbend your noble strength -Lady Macbeth
LM again being manipulative. Noun phrase “worthy thane” suggest he’s deserved and more powerful yet she’s dictating what to do. Abstract noun “strength” again manipulates him as she’s convincing him not to worry as M had said; “Macbeth shall sleep no more”- possibly fearing his guilt being exposed
O gentle lady, tis not for you to hear -Macduff
irony about patriarchy and deception; Macduff thinks LM shouldn’t hear the bad news as she’s a lady
