Key Quotations

Question 1

Macbeth has excessive ambition, which may result in his downfall

Answer 1

“Vaulting ambition/which o’erleaps itself/and falls on t’other”

Question 2

Lady Macbeth is very ambitious, being certain that the prophecy will come true

Answer 2

“Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be/what thou art promis’d”

Question 3

Lady Macbeth is…

CUNNING

Answer 3

“Look like th’innocent flower,/but be the serpent under’t”

Question 4

Lady Macbeth is showing…

SYMBOLISM OF FEMININITY

Answer 4

-women made weak
Maternal instincts
“Come to my woman’s breasts/and take my milk for gall”
Wants to LOSE femininity

Question 5

Lady Macbeth is driven mad with guilt and is hallucinating blood on her hands

Answer 5

“Out, damned spot”

Question 6

Macbeth meets the witches and his ambition to become king begins

Answer 6

“Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor/The greatest is behind

Question 7

Lady Macbeth believes that Macbeth needs more than his ambition to kill Duncan - he doesn’t have the guts to do it

Answer 7

“Art not without ambition, but without / the illness should attend it”

Question 8

Malcolm is an ‘obstacle’ in Macbeth’s path to being king

Answer 8

“That is a step/on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap/for in my way it lies”

Question 9

Ambition is Macbeth’s only reason for killing Duncan

Answer 9

“I have no spur / to prick the sides of my intent, but only / vaulting ambition”

Question 10

Lady Macbeth’s advice to Macbeth on how to avoid blame from others

Answer 10

“Look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”

Question 11

Macbeth is pinning the blame for Duncan’s murder on his sons, averting suspicion from himself

Answer 11

“We hear our bloody cousins… not confessing their cruel parricide”

Question 12

Lady Macbeth’s words to Duncan have a double meaning - she has been planning his murder

Answer 12

“In every point done twice and then done double”

Question 13

After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth’s guilt begins to take hold of him

Answer 13

“Macbeth shall sleep no more”

Question 14

Macbeth post murder, but he’s being a drama queen and using hyperbole

Answer 14

“Will all Neptune’s great. Ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand? No”

Question 15

Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and talking about what and Macbeth have fine as she feels so guilty

Answer 15

“The thane of fife has a wife. Where is she now?”

“I tell you once again, Banquo’s buried / he cannot come out on’s grave”

Question 16

Macbeth is uncertain/guilty

Answer 16

Uses of lots questions

“Whence is that knocking? / how is’t with me, when every noise appals me?”

Question 17

Macbeth is brave

Answer 17

“Brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name”

Question 18

Lady Macbeth showing appearance and reality

Answer 18

• pretends to faint, taking advantage of stereotypes

- weak overcome by shock -HIDES-> cruel and cold hearted nature

Question 19

Lady Macbeth showing good and evil

Answer 19

“too full o’th’milk of human kindness”

Question 20

Lady Macbeth showing symbolism of masculinity

Answer 20

• masculinity synonymous with strength + violence
• Shakespeare shows women as being just as cold hearted and ruthless as men
• “unsex me here” “direst cruelty”

Question 21

Lady Macbeth is cruel

Answer 21

“and fill me from the crown to the toe topfull / of direst cruelty”

Question 22

Lady Macbeth is disturbed

Answer 22

“She is troubled with thick coming fancies”