Characters Flashcards
What is a quote that presents Macbeth as noble?
“For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name).”
Meaning & context of the quote:
“For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name).”
The Captain is giving an account of how well Macbeth fought in battle.
Analyse how his quote shows that Macbeth is noble: “For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name).”
- Shows Macbeth is well-respected by his comrades
- He is loyal to King Duncan
- Emphasises his positive qualities
What is a quote that presents Macbeth as ambitious?
“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, only vaulting ambition.”
Meaning & context of the quote: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, only vaulting ambition.”
This quote is in Act 1, where Macbeth contemplates whether to murder King Duncan.
Analyse how this quote shows Macbeth’s ambition: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, only vaulting ambition.”
- Metaphor of “vaulting ambition” suggests recklessness
- Shows that Macbeth’s hamartia is his ambition
- Conveys he is willing to challenge the Great Chain of Being
Give a quote that portrays Macbeth as cruel.
“Never shake thy [Banquo’s] gory locks at me.”
Meaning & context of the quote: “Never shake thy [Banquo’s] gory locks at me.”
Macbeth is seeing his best-friend, Banquo’s ghost, after he ordered his murder.
Analyse how Macbeth is shown as cruel in the quote: “Never shake thy [Banquo’s] gory locks at me.”
- His cruelty has led to him murdering his best-friend
- Shakespeare suggests how power corrupts people
- “Gory locks” alludes to the violence of Banquo’s murder
What is a quote that presents Macbeth as traitorous?
“Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”
Meaning & context of the quote: “Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”
At this point in the play, Macbeth is convinced that he can only become king by killing Duncan.
Analyse how Macbeth is traitorous in the quote: “Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”
- At the beginning of the play, he is loyal to King Duncan, but now he is planning to commit regicide
- Commands of nature are blasphemous
- Shows deterioration of his moral compass as he feeds his ambition
In what quote is Macbeth shown as guilty?
“Macbeth does murder sleep!”
Meaning & context of quote: “Macbeth does murder sleep!”
Macbeth hears a voice crying this out, after he commits regicide.
Analyse how Macbeth’s guilt is shown in the quote: “Macbeth does murder sleep!”
- Shows he will never be able to sleep due to his guilt
- Sleep is a motif for peace, something which Macbeth won’t have
- Divine retribution for disrupting the natural order
What quote presents Lady Macbeth as a controlling character?
“I may pour my spirits in thine [Macbeth’s] ear.”
Meaning & context of the quote: “I may pour my spirits in thine [Macbeth’s] ear.”
Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that she will be the one taking charge of Duncan’s murder.
Analyse how Lady Macbeth is controlling in the quote: “I may pour my spirits in thine [Macbeth’s] ear.”
- Metaphor shows she plays a pivotal role in manipulating Macbeth into murdering Duncan
- Macbeth is shown as a puppet of his wife, challenging gender norms
- Shows her lack of confidence in Macbeth
Give a quote which portrays Lady Macbeth as ambitious.
“Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”
Meaning & context of the quote: “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”
Lady Macbeth is commanding the spirits to remove her femininity.
Analyse Lady Macbeth’s ambition in the quote: “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”
- Imperatives are blasphemous as she trys to command nature
- Removing her femininity will enable her to kill Duncan
- Shows that her ambition spurs her sinful actions
What is a quote that presents Lady Macbeth as ruthless?
“Have I plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out.”
Meaning & context of the quote: “Have I plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out.”
Lady Macbeth gives an example of what she would do to keep her word.
Analyse how Lady Macbeth is shown as ruthless in the quote: “Have I plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out.”
- Hyperbole shows that she is willing to kill an innocent baby to gain power
- Shakespeare warns that her unchecked ambition will lead to her downfall
What is a quote that presents Lady Macbeth as vulnerable?
“Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”
Meaning & context od the quote: “Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”
This occurs in Act 5, when Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking.
Analyse how Lady Macbeth’s vulnerability is conveyed in the quote: “Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”
- Juxtaposes her formidable character before she helped murder King Duncan
- Shows that she also is tormented by the guilt of commiting regicide
- Sleep is a motif for peace, something that she doesn’t deserve
Give a quote that presents Banquo as virtuous.
“Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.”
Meaning & context of the quote: “Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.”
This prophecy is given to Banquo whe him and Macbeth first meet with the three witches.
Analyse how Banquo is displayed as virtuous in the quote: “Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.”
- Despite being given this prophecy, Banquo doesn’t meddle with fate, unlike Macbeth
- His lack of action shows his integrity
- Paradox shows the witches’ deceiving nature
What is a quote that shows Banquo is sceptical?
“I fear, thou [Macbeth] play’dst most foully for’t.”
Meaning & context of the quote: “I fear, thou [Macbeth] play’dst most foully for’t.”
In Act 3, Banquo suspects that Macbeth killed Duncan in order to become king.
Analyse how Banquo is presented as sceptical in the quote: “I fear, thou [Macbeth] play’dst most foully for’t.”
- Banquo suspects that Macbeth has been corrupted, yet he doesn’t voice his opinion
- Shows that ambition causes Macbeth to commit regicide
- Warns audience of misplaced loyalty as Macbeth kills Banquo later on
What is a quote that presents Banquo as prophet-like?
“In the great hand of God I stand.”
Meaning & context of the quote: “In the great hand of God I stand.”
This is Banquo’s response to King Duncan’s murder.
Analyse how Banquo is presented as prophet-like in the quote: “In the great hand of God I stand.”
- His honesty and moral shows that his character acts as a foil to Macbeth
- Shows he is a devout Christian, the expectation in this era
- Conveys his loyalty to King Duncan
What is a quote that shows Macduff is a symbol of justice in the play?
“Was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.”
Meaning & context of the quote: “Was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.”
In his fight with Macbeth, Macduff reveals that he was born via C-section before he kills Macbeth.
Analyse how Macduff is presented as righteous in the quote: “Was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.”
- He restores the moral order of the play as he kills traitorous Macbeth
- Fulfils the witches’ prophecy, feeding into the theme of fate
What is a quote that presents Macduff as noble?
“All my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?”
Meaning & context of the quote: “All my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?”
Macduff comments this as he hears that Macbeth killed his entire family.
Analyse how Macduff is shown as noble in the quote: “All my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?”
- He chooses not to grovel over his family’s death, but instead chooses to avenge them
- “One fell swoop” alludes to the brutal murder of Macduff’s family
Give a quote that presents Macduff as faithful.
“O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!”
Meaning & context of quote: “O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!”
Macduff’s response to discovering Duncan’s murder in Act 2 Scene 3.
Analyse how Macduff is shown as faithful in the quote: “O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!”
- Rule of three and exclamatives express his true distress
- His response is genuine, showing his loyalty to King Duncan
- Builds tensions and suspicion over Macbeth
