MacBeth Flashcards
____ ____ which.____ ____ _______ _____(1,2)
Brandish’d steel which smoked with bloody execution (1,2)
This ___ _____ (5,8)
This dead butcher (5,8)
__ ____ ___ ___ ___ of ___ ___ ____, ___ ____ ____ come __ _____ (5,3)
I will not be afraid of death and bane, til Birnam forest come to Dunsinane (5,3)
____ __ ____ __ ____ my ____ _____ (5,8)
Before my body I throw my warlike shield (5,8)
We ___ _____ ___ ____ ___ ____ it (3,2)
We have scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it (3,2)
To be ____ ___ ____ ___ __ __ _____ _____ (3,1)
To be thus is nothing but to be safely thus (3,1)
___ ____ ___ , ___ _____ (1,2)
O valiant cousin, worthy gentlemen (1,2)
Is ____ __ ____ __ ___ ____ ___?(2,1)
Is this a dagger I see before me? (2,1)
We ___ ____ __ ____ __ ____ ______ (1,7)
We will proceed no further in this business (1,7)
I ___ __ ___ ___ ____ ___ ____ of my ___ ___ ____ _____ _____(1,7)
I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition (1,7)
____ ___ ___ ____ let ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ __ ___ ____ (1,4)
Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires (1,4)
The ___ ___ ___ ____ __ ___ __ ____ ___ ____ itself (1,4)
The service and the loyalty I owe, in doing it, pays itself (1,4)
___ you ____ ____, ___ ___ _____ (1,3)
Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more (1,3)
Now ___ __ ____ ___ ____ ___ ____ about ___, like _ _____ ____ ____ a ____ _____ (5,2)
“Now does he feel his title hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief.” (5,2)
This dead butcher (5,8)
- “butcher” describes Macbeth as being a bloodthirsty, violent killer which he is by the end of the play
- Clear sense that he got what he deserved, as his ambition was a pointless quest for destructive power
- Shakespeare may have wanted to show that it is a futile quest to commit regicide and destroy the great chain of being for personal gain, as no good can come from it, as we ultimately see from Macbeth’s downfall
Brandish’d steel which smoked with bloody execution (1,2)
- presented as heroic as he defeated the enemy
- sense of violence from the beginning as there’s the imagery of his sword “smoking” because of how aggressively he’s killed the enemy
- “bloody” foreshadows the killing and Macbeth’s association with blood and guilt
We have scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it (3,2)
- The “snake” could be the threat to the throne - Macbeth is aware that he has done damage to the throne but hasn’t completely killed it- showing he doesn’t feel fully secure in his power
- relates to “be the serpent under’t” - snakes could symbolise a sly, evil nature - relating to the garden of Eden
- FEARFUL
O valiant cousin, worthy gentlemen (1,2)
- significance of the king saying this- shows how he puts his trust in Macbeth which will later create more shock in the regicide because of how highly the king spoke of Macbeth
- we see Macbeth’s noble standing - showing he’s a tragic hero
- “cousin” suggests they are close
Before my body I throw my warlike shield (5,8)
- Creates some catharsis in audience, as they’re reminded of the “brave Macbeth” from 1,2 who brutally killed the enemy. Despite being a ruthless tyrant, Macbeth always fought and proudly wore his armour in battle
- “warlike” could relate to the fact that he’s physically about to go to war, or could mirror his inner turmoil he has faced ever since the start of the play
To be thus is nothing but to be safely thus (3,1)
- insecurities- Macbeth is afraid of Banquo taking his crown
- Early signs of weakness but we also see Macbeth become more of a tyrant
- Without the knowledge that he’ll be safe in his crown, Macbeth finds it meaningless
We will proceed no further in this business (1,7)
- attempting to use his authority over LM but fails
- “this business” suggests shame as he is too afraid to say what it is aloud
- doesn’t want to go against king or God, but LM manipulates him
Is this a dagger I see before me? (2,1)
- Soliloquy - Macbeth is alone, giving him time to think about the regicide
- Ambiguity over whether the dagger is real, a figment of Macbeth’s imagination or a trick from the supernatural?
- Raises the question of who holds the power here
I will not be afraid of death and bane, til Birnam forest come to Dunsinane (5,3)
- Still appears hubristic and over confident at the seemingly impossible idea of the wood coming to the castle
- Rhyme appears to mirror a witches chant- could Macbeth be completely out of control here?
I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition (1,7)
- he is aware it is his ambition which spurs him on, showing some control over his actions
- desperate to become king and thinks regicide is the only solution
