Macbeth Flashcards
Ross): “Brave Macbeth - well he deserves his name” and what it suggests
(Ross): “Brave Macbeth - well he deserves his name”
From the start of the play, Macbeth is immediately seen in high regard with the people he is surrounded with. “He deserves that name” He has put in the work and fighting for the king as a worthy and valiant soldier.
Alternative Representation: The royals were a terrible judge of character because the old thane of Cawdor betrays him and then Macbeth betrays him as well. The idea of patriarchy is shown when they call him “brave” to show that they don’t judge on one’s values and character but rather on his bravery and loyalty. That was their “measuring stick”
“Brave” could also foreshadow his ruthless murders as we associate the word brave a person who is daring to do something hence why he kills the king.
(Banquo): “The instrument of darkness tell us truths, To betray’s in deepest consequence” and what it suggests
(Banquo): “The instrument of darkness tell us truths, To betray’s in deepest consequence”
An instrument is to be plated and this is portraying that both Macbeth and Banquo are to be played wrongly by the witches which are foreshadowing something terrible and evil is going to happen. This is a juxtaposition because Banquo admits that the witches will tell the truth because of something so nasty and something truthful. They do this in order to lie to Macbeth and cause his downfall to lure him in which foreshadows that they drop him for trusting the witches.
(Macbeth): “Let not light see my dark and deep desires” and what it suggests
(Macbeth): “Let not light see my dark and deep desires”
His desires are “dark and deep” Implying that his desires are deep within him, almost being part of him. This also amplifies the power of the supernatural as evidenced by transforming Macbeth’s personality within only one scene. Macbeth’s main catalyst at the start is when he approaches the witches.
(Lady Macbeth, supernatural, women): “unsex me here, and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty” and what it suggests
(Lady Macbeth, supernatural, women): “unsex me here, and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty”
When she says “unsex me here” she wants to reduce her femininity, to take away the qualities that make her feminine. Back in that time, being a woman would be soft, elegant, and caring, she wanted to take this away and become evil feeling no emotion.
“Fill me” She wants to be fully immersed with the worst possible evil. Women were suffering so much from the patriarchy that they had to become as masculine as possible.
(Lady Macbeth): “When thou durst to do it, then you were a man” and what it suggests
(Lady Macbeth): “When thou durst to do it, then you were a man”
Patriarchy oppresses man, and this is an example. For a patriarchal man, he had to be brave, courageous, and importantly in the eyes of his wife. Lady Macbeth knew that, consequently, Lady Macbeth takes advantage of this and emasculates Macbeth whilst doing so. And this is what kicks Macbeth over the edge leading to his corruption and ultimate downfall. So, Macbeth kills Duncan to prove his masculinity to his wife rather than his desire to be the king.
(Macbeth): “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand” and what it suggests
(Macbeth): “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand”
“blood” is a representation of Macbeth’s never-ending guilt, it seems to follow him wherever he goes. Once Macbeth has killed someone, he feels extreme guilt, but his guilt starts to decay as he repeats his sins. From act 2 scene 2, to act 5 scene 2, Macbeth gradually becomes almost emotionless by killing King Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff’s family.
(Macbeth): “Full of scorpions is my mind” and what it suggests
(Macbeth): “Full of scorpions is my mind”
The “scorpions” are eating away at his mind and this can foreshadow the fact for the inevitable downfall of Macbeth and losing his mind as a result of the scorpions eating away at him.
(Macbeth): “out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow” and what it suggests
(Macbeth): “out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow”
You can never catch your shadow, you are always chasing it, in this case for Macbeth, getting the crown and power. For example, when he kills Banquo in order to keep his lineage of becoming king intact. “Candle” is the metaphor for his life, he releases that he is immortal. Just like how a candle will eventually finish eventually. For the first time in the play, he is questioning himself if what he did was all worth it as he realises that he is chasing a shadow that he cannot catch. For the first time, he shows a sign of regret and contemplation.
(Witches): “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” and what it suggests
(Witches): “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”
Chanted by the three witches at the beginning of the play. It acts as a summary of what is to come in the play. Shakespeare uses the phrase to show that what is considered good is in fact bad and what is considered bad is actually good.
(Lady Macbeth): “Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t” and what it suggests
“Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t”
Lady Macbeth is being duplicitous and multifaceted here. She is telling him to look guilt-free but be devious and corrupt.
