Key quotes Flashcards
Macbeth hallucinates a dagger leading him to Duncan’s chamber, symbolizing his inner conflict and descent into murder.
“Is this a dagger which I see before me?” (Act 2, Scene 1)
Macbeth realizes he’s too deep in crime to turn back, showing his complete moral downfall.
“I am in blood / Stepped in so far that should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o’er.” (Act 3, Scene 4)
After Lady Macbeth’s death, Macbeth reflects on life’s meaningless nature, showing his despair.
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day.” (Act 5, Scene 5)
Lady Macbeth rejects femininity, associating it with weakness, and calls on dark forces to make her ruthless.
“Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.” (Act 1, Scene 5)
She advises Macbeth to appear innocent while hiding his deadly intentions—showing her manipulative nature.
“Look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t.” (Act 1, Scene 5)
This paradox foreshadows the theme of deception and the blurred lines between good and evil.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” (Act 1, Scene 1)
Macbeth compares his thoughts to scorpions, showing his mental torment and growing obsession with securing his throne.
“O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!” (Act 3, Scene 2)
Macbeth resolves to act without hesitation, marking his shift into ruthless tyranny. He no longer needs Lady Macbeth’s persuasion.
“The very firstlings of my heart shall be / The firstlings of my hand.” (Act 4, Scene 1)
Lady Macbeth mocks Macbeth’s guilt after Duncan’s murder, seeing it as weakness. Ironic, since she later suffers from guilt herself.
“You do unbend your noble strength to think / So brainsickly of things.” (Act 2, Scene 2)
Donalbain (Duncan’s son) says this after his father’s murder, showing his awareness that people who seem friendly can be traitors.
“There’s daggers in men’s smiles.” (Act 2, Scene 3)
Duncan says this after meeting the witches and is suspicious of them showing his wariness and suspicious nature.
Act 1, Scene 3 (Macbeth’s reaction to the witches’ prophecy):
“If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow and which will not,
Speak then to me…”
business jargon
It is the bloody business
Feels spiritually cut off from god wracked with guilt and fear
I could not say amen
Great chain of being broken
Some say the earth was feverous and did shake
Old man describing what happened after Macbeth is crowned
Tis unnatural
Banquo suspects Macbeth
I fear thou play’st most foully for’t
Macbeth is anxious and still feels scared of the throne being taken
We have scotched the snake not killed it
Macbeth cant sleep
And sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams
Macbeth justifies continuing his violent actions
Things bad begun make strong themselves
Macbeth no longer involves lady Macbeth in his plans
Be innocent in the deed
Macbeth is insecure and anxious in his position as king
To be thus is nothing but to be safely thus
Macbeth calls on the night
Come seeling night
