Macbeth Flashcards
Witches famous line
Witches meet, plan to meet Macbeth - Act 1 Scene 1
“fair is foul and foul is fair”
- deception
-Witches and Lady Macbeth - LNK
Contrast of adjectives shows false appearances and that goodness can be superficial
connective “and” shows two sides to a story - dont believe what you see
CONT: equivocation
Animals describing Macbeth and Banquo
The Captain telling the King of Macbeth and Banquos Bravery
- Bravery
- Violence
- Loyalty/False Appearences
“as sparrows, eagles or the hare ,the lion”
list shows how captain was not able to easily describe Macbeth and Banquo actions in just one animal showing the significance/powerfulness of their actions
Apex Predators show Macbeth and Banquo power
Eagles and Lions are very loyal creatures - false appearances
Brave Macbeth
Sergeant Telling King about Macbeth bravery in battle
“For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name - Disdaining Fortune, with his brandishd steel which smoked with bloody execution”
CONT: violent acts were rewarded in jacobean era
smokd - connotations of fireshowing speed and violence of attack showing macbeth power
Other people describe macbeths actions which allows us to imagine it which will make us exaggerate some of his positive qualities
Macbeth easy
Captain describing Macbeth violent actions
“till he unseamd him from the nave to the chops”
unseamd - shows the ease behind brutal attack showing macbeth skill but also his unneccesary brutality
CONT: Violent acts rewarded in Jacobean Time
Macbeth linking to Witches
When Macbeth and Banquo first meet the witches
“So foul and fair a day i have not seen”
LNK to “fair is foul and foul is fair”
CONT: how witches were viewed at that time
- False Appearances
paradoxical nature conveys the deceit and deceptiveness of Macbeth
First line Macbeth says in the entire play links him to the witches immediately - both have evil nature
women beards banquo
Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches: prophecy. Banquo speaking
“You should be women/yet your beards forbid me to interpret you are so”
CONT: women were seen as very delicate in jacobean era so a beard would have shocked the audience
contrast of “women” and “beards” show ambiguity of human gender showing witches supernatural nature/ lack of human qualities such as kindness
commanding verb - forbid shows the extent to which they are not human
Banquo compared to Macbeth
Macbeth and Banquo and Witches meet for the prophecy
“lesser than Macbeth, and greater…Not so happy yet much happier”
Paradoxical statement shown by the comparative adjectives of “lesser” and “greater” show jealousy and contempy that Macbeth will have of Banquo in future as according to witches banquo will be more successful and this shows macbeth has been infuenced by the witches from the start.
CONT: Witches were considered evil in jacobean times/Equivocation
LNK “fair is foul and foul is fair”
False appearences/Supernatural
Witches Devil
Banquo after Macbeth is appointed Thane of Cawdor
“What, can the devil speak true?”
evil noun “devil” shows that Banquo perceives witches as evil
CONT:view would have been shared by a jacobean audience
question word “what” shows banquo is untrusting of witches from start
Witches
Supernatural
Darkness
Banquo reaction to Macbeth asking whether he wants his sons to be kings
” the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray in deepest consequences”
definite article “the” dehumanises the witches - outcast from humans
superlative “deepest” shows Banquo hesitance and concern in witches prophecy
Banquo recognises the witches evil shown by the light motif of “darkness”
CONT: witches
Witches
Evil
Supernatural
Macbeth aside link to witches
Macbeth in an aside after talking bout phrophecies witches have given them
“cannot be ill, cannot be good, if ill”
Contradictory statement shown by contrasting adjectives “ill” and “good” and this link to “fair is foul and foul is fair” showing how Macbeth is already thinking like the witches
CONT: equivocation
aside - shows Macbeth ambition and deceit as he is concealing thoughts from Banquo
Duncan art
King Duncan talking about the previous Thane of Cawdor and his reaction to being betrayed by him
“There’s no art to find the minds construction in the face. He was a gentleman who i built an absolute trust”
“art” shows it is a hard skill showing how easily it can fool you showing duncan isnt to blame - sympathy
False appearences - Duncan admits to be susceptible to them showing human side of kingship
after “absolute trust” Macbeth enters showing the comparison between him and the previous than of cawdor
-false appearances
stars fires
Macbeth is in an aside plotting Duncan murder
“Stars hide your fires let not light see my black and deep desires”
contrast of light imagery shown by “stars” and “black” emphasises Macbeth conflicted personality and tumultuous mental nature
Imperative verb “hide” to command nature like “stars” could be seen as blasphemous by jacobean audience and seen against nature
In an aside showing his true feelings/ deceitful and flase appearences as not sharing true feelings with anyone else
ryhming mimcs witches showing macbeth is becoming more like them
- false appearences
- LNK to “dunnest smoke of hell” quote
Partner Macbeth
Lady Macbeth reading Macbeth letter
“my dearest partner of greatness”
superlative adjective “dearest” shows M and LM close bond
“Partner” - shows M views them as equals which will shock a Jacobean audience
Milk Kindness
Lady Macbeth after reading Macbeth’s letter
“It is too full o’th milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way”
milk is produced in women so is presenting Macbeth too feminine and not ruthless enough which is a contrast to the battlefield
Jacobean stereotypes for women were kind and weak
raven
Lady Macbeth in an aside after hearing the king comes tonight
“the raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of duncan under my battlements”
Possessive determiner “my” presents the power that LM commands - takes ownership
“Raven” is a bid of ill omens and has connotations of witches
“hoarse” and “croak”- strength of raven is impaired to hush of the terrors to come
CONT: women owning property wouldve shocked Jacobean audience
spirits
Lady Macbeth in a soliquoy after hearing duncan is coming
“Come you spirits unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty”
LM uses imperative verbs “come” and “unsex” showing the power she has or at least the power she thinks she has.This is also an example of hubris as it is very arrogant for a human to think they can control evil forces
The verb “unsex” also shows her desire to remove all feminine qualities and become more masculine suggesting only men have power. This would have been distrubing to a jacobean audience and see as almost unnatural similar to a witch - further shown by “spirits” unnatural/supernatural
-gender/violence/supernatural
milk and gall
Lady Macbeth in a soliquoy after she has read Macbeth letter about phrophecies
“Take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers”
Imperative verb “take” shows power LM thinks she has and another example of hubris where human arrogance makes her believe she can control the supernatural
“milk” represents her feminine qualities and this is what stops her violent nature and this contrats with “gall” showing how unnatural what she wants to do is linking her to a witch and audience wouldve been shocked by the unnanturalness of it especially from a noblewoman like LM
smoke hell
Lady Macbeth soliquoy after reading Macbeth letter
“Come thick night and pall thee in the dunnest smokes of hell….nor heaven peep through blanket of dark “
Imperative verb “Come” shows LM power however it also shows a bit of her arrogance as she is commanding nature like the “night” showing her arrogance and the Jacobean audience could also see it as blasphemous as she is breaking the cycle of nature
reilgiouis nouns “hell” and “heaven” shows LM is aware of consequences of regicide but does it anyway shocking jacobean audience
“peep” - weak noun to describe heaven showing LM arrogance as she is disregarding heaven
serpent and flower
Lady Macbeth advising Macbeth
“Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it”
imperative verb “Look” shows she is in control of Macbeth
noun “serpent” has religious connotatios of the snake in the the bible trying to tempt eve in the garden of eden LM is the serpent trying to tempt Macbeth into evil showing her own eveil nature
shakespeakere might be trying to say blashphemous acts always lead to ruin
Contrast of serpent and flower show the extent of false appearence in macbeth and the deceit and deceptiveness that LM and M portray in Macbeth
Angles
Macbeth soliquoy thinking about whether to kill duncan
“His virtues will plead like angels trumpet tongued against the deep damnation of his taking off”
Biblical imagery of deep damnationa nd angels converys macbeth mortal sin of killing macbeth
harsh alliteration of deep damanation shows the severe consequences of regicide
eumphemistic language “taking off” for duncans death as macbeth is overwhelmed with guilt showing his vulnerability
Horse in M soliquoy
Macbeth in a soliquoy thinking about whether to kill duncan
“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition which overleaps itself and fall on the other”
“Vaulting ambition” is a metaphor which shows Macbeth intense desire for power and also the danger of his desire for power as shown when he uses the verbs “overleaps” and “fall” showing the harsh consequences if he fails
CONT: these horse metaphors wouldve been well understood by jacobean audience as very popular sport back then
Macbeth masculinity
Macbeth justyfying not killing Duncan to LM
“I dare do all that may become a man”
The modal verb “may” expresses possibility showing his wavering ocntingency on doing the right thing showing his lack of claroity on what to which allows LM to easily manipulate him
nipple smiling
Lady Macbeth trying to convince Macbeth to kill Duncan
“I would, while it was smiling have pulcked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out”
Violent verb “dashed” shows LM desturctive nature showing her determination
Imagery is shocking at there is a contrast in the innocence of the baby shown by the gentle verb “smiling” with the imagery of “dashed the brains out” once again showing LM destructive nature and also false appearences
CONT: audience wouldve been disturbed that a women would do this
LM manlihood attack
Lady macbeth attacking Macbeth Manlihood to manipulate him to kill duncan
“When you durst do it you were a man”
adverb “when” forces Macbeth into action as she attacks his manlihood and would hurt his pride
Role reversal a woman manipulating and dominating a man which wouldve been unusual for the jacobean audience at that time
Man Children
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth aguing whether to kill duncan
“we will proceed no further in this business … bring forth men children only”
modal verb “will” coverys Macbeth finality on his decision and the euphemisim “this business” is used to describe the murder of duncan conveying his knowledge of sinful nature of regicide and perhaps he believes deep down that duncan doesnt deserve it
CONT:shakespeare trying to please King James 1 so makes it look like regicide is very bad
Dagger
“Is this a dagger is see before me,the handle toward my hand?”
Rhetorical question conveys Macbeths loss of control as hallucination acts as a manifestation of Macbeths guilt.
In different some versions of the play the dagger is real and in some it is a hallucination
Macbeth copying LM
LM has convinced M to kill duncan and end the scene saying
“False face must hide what the false heart doth know”
imperative verb “must” shows Macbeth knows consequences of regicide placing lots of importance not to get caught
“hide” continues theme of false appearences and links with look lik innocnet flower showing Macbeth has been manipulated by LM
CONT: role reveral - man being manipulated by woman
Lady Macbeth compassion
Lady Macbeth talking with macbeth after he kills duncan
“had he not resembled my father as he slept i had done it”
possessive determiner of my father shows how she still cares for her father so could not bring herself to kill duncan showing her compassion and perhaps her weakness as a woman
CONT: compassion as a woman wouldve been a common idea shared in jacobean audience
Macbeth before killing duncan
Macbeth last lines before killing Duncan
“hear it not duncan for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or hell”
Mirrored “heaven” to “hell” as macbeth in his guilt ridden state cant tell the difference and is confused
Rhyme echoes the witches manner of speaking
Ends the scene with “hell”
Macbeth sleep
Macbeth hears a voice after he kills Duncan
“Sleep no more… Macbeth does murder sleep,innocent sleep”
“sleep” symbolizes tranquillity and peace so by murdering his sleep he has destroyed his inner peace. Also when he murders duncan he brings the people of scotland into turmoil destoying their peace too
“sleep” can alternatively be seen as innocence so this destoys his innocence as he murders duncan and is left impure and this si his shift from hero to villain
Different plays either say the voice is a hallucination or it is real which has different effects
painted devil
When Macbeth doesnt wnat to go back to give the guards the daggers LAdy macbeth says
“infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers : The sleeping and dead are but as pictures: tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil”
“infirm” shows the weakness of Macbeths resolve/purpose as he fears the deed that he has done showing some remorse/fear of consequences
demanding verb “Give” shows LM dominance over M especially in high pressure situations which audience wouldve expected M to take charge
LM dominance of M also shown in metaphor “tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil” comparing M to a child shows how weak LM thinks he is showing her dominance over him
Hypocrisy from LM as she wasnt willing to kill duncan as shown by quote “I would have done it if he didnt resemble my father”
Water Imagery
Macbeth panicking after he kills duncan and says
“Wil all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?”
adverb “all” shows the huge amount of water needed compared to his small hand shwoing the extent of the blood and therefore the extent of his guilt
“great neptunes ocean” - hyperbolic imagery and the fact that a deity cant wash his guilt shows the extent of his guilt
blood acts as a symbol of all of his evil actions or alternatively can be viewed as a symbol of guilt
questions shows macbeth unsureness and panick at situation
CONT: Macbeth refers to a roman god after commiting murder shocking audience
LNK “perfume of arabia” and “a little water clears us of the deed”
LM White
After she places the dagger to guards to blame them
“My hands are of your colour but i shame to wear a heart so white”
“your colour” shows LM acknowledgement of her part in duncans murder
criticises macbeth when describing his heart as “white” showing his cowardice as in those times a white flag was often used to show surrenders and associated cowardice that comes with surrendering socking jacobean audience as a woman would normally have more compassion
“shame” shows how she dislikes cowardice that macbeth is displaying
Water deed
LM after she comes back from duncans chamber
“a little water clears us from this deed”
adjective “little” shows the insignificance that LM thinks of the murder which is further shown by describing the murder with euphemistic language “deed”
hubris shown by the matter of the fact language like “clears” showing LM confidence that guilt and conscience will be cleared
LNK: sweet perfume of arabia and neptunes ocean
LM Faint
As LM fake faints to distract everyone from Duncan’s murder and Banquo says
“Look to the lady”
gentle verb “look” shows Banquo compassion and caring but alternatively could be seen as an imperative verb showing his dominating nature both on battlefield and off it - good values for a king
“lady” - feeble and weak which would’ve been similar to many of the audience view of women at that time
Donaldbain Important quote
Malcolm and Donalbain talking after Duncan has been murdered and Donalbain says “There’s dagger in men’s smile the nearer in blood the nearer bloody
“daggers in mens smiles” metaphors shows idea of false appearences and contrasts donalbain and his father as donaldbain is more careful who to trust.”daggers” shows the violence of those around him”
“the nearer in blood the nearer bloody”
blood shows guilt/violent actiosn so donalbain is very aware of the dangers around him (dramatic irony) showing how he is reponsible and fit to be a king
Macbeth safety
After Macbeth has become king he becomes wary of Banquo and says
” to be thus is nothing but to be safely thus. Our fears in banquo stick deep”
says being king is “nothing” which shows the extent of his ambition which could be both harmful an helpful to macbeth. Alternatively murdering duncan was not worth it and only made him insecure
“fears” shows macbeth paranoia of Banquo as he has used false appearences to kill duncan so he is scared banquo could do the same
jewel soul
Macbeth soliqouy before he tells murderers to murder Banquo
“Mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo’s kings”
“Eternal jewel” - represents his soul shows the extent of his ambition as willing to give up his soul to devil
“common enemy of man” - euphemistic language to describe the devil still shows Macbeth fear of devil and has not fully turned evil monster yet
by describing banquos kids as ‘seeds” using plant like language shows the natureness of banquo kids ot become king - meant to happen
CONT: divine right of kings/ Eternal jewel mentioned in bible to show soul so audience wouldve been familiar with the reference
Toxic masculinity
When macbeth tries to undermine the murders they repond with
“we are men,my liege”
“men” - toxic masulinity - fact that they are men means they are powerful and strong
LNK unsex me here
“my liege” - shows loyalty towards macbeth / fear of macbeth - false appearences
Lady Macbeth without content
Lady Macbeth in an aside talking about her unhappiness
"”Noughts had alls spent where our desire is got without content”
“desire… without content” - shows M and LM are not happy - what they wanted buy still not happy maybe be showing the hastiness of their decision making not properly thinking on what they wanted especially M who constantly got manipulated
rhyming structure links LM to witches showing her evil nature
DEV: in an aside only shows her witch side when she is alone not even with M showing her dominance over him as she manipulates him
LNK”my dearest patner of greatness”
CONT: Witches are bad / Role reversal of woman dominating
Snake burnt
Macbeth after finding out Fleance is still alive and says
“We have the scorched the snake not killed it…both the worlds suffer”
“scorched” - shows the powerfulness and the dominance of the murder on banquo showing Macbeths stronger than Banquo
LNK lesser than macbeth yet greater
“snake” represents Macbeths rivals emphasising their evil nature - calling a innocent child a snake shows Macbeth damaged mind. Snake is only wounded danger not over yet
“both worlds” suffering could represent living and dead - death is preferable, good and bad - doesnt know the difference, Internal turmoil and external reality. Macbeth murderous action to get king have left him in murderous turmoil
Scorpions Macbeth
Macbeth when talking about his mental state
“O full of scropions is my mind, dear wife”
“scorpions” represents Macbeth dark desire to kill Fleance alternatively could represent his uneasiness/anxiety as rivals still alive
“dear” shows LM delicacy which contrasts to how she has been treated earlier in the play
LM chuck
When LM asks what hes going to do M replies with
“Be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck”
“dearest chuck” - term of endearement - “chuck” ancient word for chicken which was used to show affection in Jacobean era This shows how loving and caring he still is even after all the murders.
Macbeth no longer being manipulated by LM and is now doing evil by himself - LM has corrupted him into an evil tyrant or alternative view he always had this evil just needed LM to get it out
gory locks
Macbeth utters these words soon after he has seen Banquo’s ghost appear at the banquet table.
“Thou Canst say i did it; never shake thy gory locks at me!”
adjective “gory” shows the brutality of banquos death as gory connotates blood and could be seen as to show macbeth cowardice the brutality of attack was done by other people not him - LNK earlier in the play when he was seen as brave
“gory” is quite descriptive language so other people wouldve been quite confused at macbeth not only talking to someone invisible but also to describe him in such detail emphasising macbeth madness
LM attacks masculity for hundreth time after ghost
LM talking to macbeth after he sees banquos ghost
“Are you a man?”
Once again questioning macbeth masculinity however LM does so after M traumatic encounter with B showing her lack of sympathy for M
CONT - gender roles at that time
painting fear
LM after M sees ghost
“this is the very painting of your fear”
“painting” shows connotates happiness contrasting with fear showing how insignificant LM thinks Ms fear is which is very hypocratical as LNK
“I would have done had he not resembled my father”
manipulation from LM - gender roles
blood x 3
M and LM talking after banquet
“It will have blood they say:blood will have blood”
Repetition of “blood” shows he feel trapped in inevitabiltiy of his violence as that is all he can think about
Macbeth recalls an old saying that “blood” shed through violence seeks more blood in revenge, creating a cycle of bloodshed; he feels trapped in the inevitability of this violence.
Blood wade
Macbeth talking with LM after banquet
“I am in blood stepped in so far that should i wade no more returning were as tedious as go over”
“blood” represents all the voilent acts he has comitted and can almost be seen as a metaphor for his violent state of mind
“tedious” such a trivial adjective to describe killing vs not killing shows macbeths corrupted mind and how killing has corrupted him
“as” shows macbeth killing vs non killing side is equal yet macbeth still chooses to keep on killing showing a deep sense of violence inside of him that always been tehre - his true self without any manipulation
Macbeth wicked
Second witches talking about macbeth
“Something wicked this comes”
describing macbeth as “something” dehumanises him as not someone something - guilt has consumed him to no longer be human - too evil
Further emphasised as witches themselves are wicked so calling macbeth emphasise3s his evilness
B tech fair is foul
all wiches doing a spell
“double double toil and trouble”
rhyme lnks to fair is foul
Macbeth vs banquo black
Macbeth talks to witches
“How nowst you secret,black and midnight hags what ist you do”
Macbeth refers to witches as “hags” showing lack of repect and his rudeness/arrogance contrasting with how he first met them - shows progression of macbeth - witches have corrupted him
“black” - shows macbeth recognition that witches are evil
After a messgenger tells us macbeth has sent murderers to kill her and her children
“I am in this earthly world; where to do harm is often laudable, to do good sometime accounted dangerous folly.Why then do i put up that womenly defence to say i have done no harm “
Womenly - LNK gender roles
contrast of harm with positive adjective laudable shows how morally corrupted society is as are worshipping a murderer
Malcolm wary of Macduff - heavenly imagery
Malcolm and macduff testing each other loyalties
“this tyrant whose sole name blisters our tongues,was once thought honest; you have loved him.. you may discern of him through me to offer up a weak, poor innocent lamb to appease an angry god” - Malcolm
describing macbeth as an angry god - shows malcolm awareness of macbeth power - juxtaposition of angry and god shows how evil of a king he is
“weak poor innocent lamb” - emphasises strength of macbeth as well as innocnece of malcolm can contrast macbeth
Malcolm vs Duncan
“my thoughts cannot transpose, angels are bright still though the brightest fell though all things foul would wear the bows of grace yet grace must still look so”
Contrast of “foul” and “grace” show false appearences and malcolm is aware of them unlike his father hsowing his lack of naivety - untrusting
“brightest” refers to lucifer - macbeth compared to lucifer emphasisng malcolm awareness of evil contrasting with duncan -
Scotland
“it weeps,it bleeds and each new day a gash is added to her wounds”
personification of scotland through verbs “weeps” and “bleeds” emphasises the damage its going through - macbeth the cause of it Lnk “wade no more”
Black macbeth
“All the particulars of vice so grafted than when they shall be opened black macbeth will seem as pure as snow”
“grafted” - connotates gardernes planting trees and “opened” - buds gardening image LNK duncan “i have plant thee and labor to keep it growing “
simile shows difference bwteen duncan who wasnt willing to do anything and malcolm taking actiuon and is so far to become moire evil than macbeth to save his country
Macduff children
“He has no children… o hell kite… all my pretty chickens .. one fell swoop”
describing macbeth as “hell kite” - devilish bird of prey shows his hatred for macbeth fuelling his motivation toi kill him
describing his children as “pretty chickens” shows his deep care for them as well as their vulnerability and innocence
“one fell swoop” this proverbial phrase shows the simple savage attack
Macduff vs LM
When Macduff learns of the murder of his children
“gentle heavens cut short all intermission”
Less imperative yet still commanding shows in vulnerability human hubris comes out thinking they can command nature
LNK LM come you siprits
Macduff desire
“be this the whetstone of your sword”
“whetstone” - object used to sharpen sword - LM parallel to malcolm LM harsh manipulation whereas malcolm tries to fuel Macduff when he is most vulneranle
LM after she has been found sleepwalking and is hallucinating with blood on her hands
“Out,Damned spot! Out I say!”
Repetition of Out shows her increasing desperation
Varied punctuation also shows her disjointed mind
imperative verb out used here to show her desperation whereas earlier used to cmmand nature - shows her loss of power
Arabia
LM hallucination of blood
“all the perfumes of arabia will not sweeten this little hand”
significant contrast “all” and “little” shows vast difference i the small amount of blood yet nothing can sweeten it - always lingers - cant get it off - representation of guilt - once LM accept her place in duncans death she gets overwhelmed with guilt
Macbeth description
“tyrant” - mentaith
“his title hang loose about him like a giants robe upon a dwarfish thief” - Angus
Giant vs dwarf contrasts difference in virtues between duncan and macbeth not strength or bravery showing how kings should ultimately be virtuous
Macbeth in castle and hears a woman cry
“i have almost forgot the taste of fears”
“taste of fears” - human charecteristic - lack of it meaning he is not human - guilt has consumed him to make him numb to him due to significant amount of guilt
LNK never shake thy gpry locks
Macbeth hears the news of his wife passing
“out, out brief candle lifes but a walking shadow”
Macbeth echoes language “out out” - unlike normally doesnt show macbeth manipulation and instead shows their close bond and also creates a sense of pathos for audience for macbeth
“Shadow” shows his sadness - light imagery used good for onces - shows how macbeth is flattened whereas Macduff was fuelled as both deaths can be viewed as Macduff and Macbeth fault - revenge vs sadness
Bear
“They have tied me to a stake, i cannot fly but bear like i must fight the course”
simile bear like shows his power also on his own now that LM died
“must” modal verb recgnises importance
