Macbeth Flashcards
“—– Macbeth – well he ——– that name”
“brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name”
Theme: nobility, power
Context: Macbeth was seen as the perfect jacobean male
Analysis: the quote shows how Macbeth initially possessed admirable characteristics of loyalty and masculinity
“Come to my woman’s —— and take my —- for —-”
“Come to my woman’s breasts, and take my milk for gall”
Theme: supernatural, ambition and power, femininity
Context: contrasts typical Jacobean gender stereotypes
Analysis: Lady Macbeth’s use of violent imagery shows her deep, sinister desire to obtain power. “gall” reflects her bitter nature. Her rejection of her maternal instincts shows her absurd views
“Are you a —-?”
“Are you a man?”
Theme: Manipulation, masculinity, ambition
Context: Macbeth being mocked as a coward would be highly demasculating for him
Analysis: Lady Macbeth questioning Macbeth’s masculinity demonstrates her manipulative, condescending behaviour.
“By the ——– of my thumbs something —— this way comes.”
“By the pricking of my thumbs something wicked this way comes.”
Theme: Supernatural, Evil
Context: The Witches sense Macbeth’s approach.
Analysis:
“Pricking of my thumbs” refers to superstitions about sensing evil.
Calling Macbeth “something wicked” shows he has become the embodiment of evil.
Ironically, the witches originally influenced him, but now even they see him as dangerous.
“Come, you ——-… —– me here… And —- me, from the —– to the toe, top-full of direst ——-”
“Come, you spirits… unsex me here… And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty”
Theme: supernatural, ambition
Context: The supernatural was highly feared by jacobean people
Analysis: lady Macbeth calling upon evil spirits to help her fulfil her ambition shows her extreme lust for power
“This dead ——- and his —– -like —–.”
“This dead butcher and his fiend-like queen.”
Theme: Justice, Tyranny
Context: Malcolm describes Macbeth and Lady Macbeth after their deaths.
Analysis:
“Butcher” reduces Macbeth to a merciless killer, ignoring his earlier complexity.
“Fiend-like queen” suggests Lady Macbeth’s association with evil and the supernatural.
Highlights how history remembers them as villains, not tragic figures.
“Will all great ——-‘s —– wash this —– clean from my —-?”
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?”
Theme: Guilt, Consequences of Murder
Context: Macbeth, horrified after killing Duncan, wonders if he can cleanse himself. Loss of religion and mortal soul
Analysis:
The vastness of “Neptune’s ocean” contrasts with his inability to wash away guilt.
Using the Roman god instead of the Christian god shows his severance with religion
Blood symbolises guilt—water cannot remove it.
Contrast with Lady Macbeth’s earlier claim: “A little water clears us of the deed.”
“Is this a —– which I see before me, the —— toward my —-?”
“Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?”
Theme: Guilt, Fate vs. Free Will, The Supernatural
Context: Macbeth hallucinates a dagger before murdering Duncan.
Analysis:
The dagger represents his ambition pulling him towards the crime, he has th
The vision could be supernatural or a manifestation of his guilty conscience.
The rhetorical question reflects his uncertainty—he is torn between morality and ambition.
11 syllables, unstressed ending which is feminine making Macbeth look weaker
“Stay, you imperfect ——–. —- me more.”
“Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more.”
Theme: Fate vs. Free Will, Ambition
Context: Macbeth wants the witches to reveal more of his future.
Analysis:
“Imperfect speakers” shows his frustration with their vague prophecies.
“Stay” is an imperative commanding the witches to his will, shows his ambition
His eagerness suggests his ambition is already awakened.
Contrast with Banquo, who is more cautious.
“Till he ——– him from the —- to the chops”
“Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chops”
Theme: Violence, Honour, Macbeth’s Bravery
Context: A captain describes Macbeth’s brutal killing of Macdonwald in battle.
Analysis:
“Unseamed” makes the act sound precise and effortless, showing Macbeth’s skill.
“From the nave to the chops” (from belly to jaw) highlights the gruesome, excessive violence.
Initially portrays Macbeth as a noble warrior, but foreshadows his later unchecked brutality.
Ironic contrast—his violence is heroic here, but later it becomes tyrannical and unjustified.
“I —-thou played’st most —— for’t”
“I fear thou played’st most foully for’t”
Theme: Suspicion, Betrayal
Context: Banquo suspects Macbeth of murdering Duncan.
Analysis:
“Played’st most foully” suggests treachery—Macbeth has cheated fate.
Banquo is suspicious but does not act, leading to his downfall.
“But signs of ——–, like —–, shall shine. On all ———.”
“But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine. On all deservers.”
Theme: Justice, Kingship
Context: Duncan rewards loyalty and appoints Malcolm as heir.
Analysis:
“Stars” contrast with Macbeth’s “Stars, hide your fires,” reinforcing good vs. evil.
Suggests Duncan rewards merit, whereas Macbeth seizes power through murder.
“—–, hide your —–, let not light see my —- and deep desires.”
“Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires.”
Theme: Ambition, Fate vs. Free Will
Context: Macbeth, after hearing that Malcolm is named heir to the throne, realises he must take action to fulfil the witches’ prophecy.
Analysis:
The imagery of darkness symbolises secrecy and evil.
“Black and deep desires” suggest his willingness to commit dark deeds.
The contrast between “stars” (light, goodness) and his “desires” (evil, hidden) highlights the theme of deception.
“Macbeth hath ——- sleep”
“Macbeth hath murdered sleep”
Theme: Guilt, Madness
Context: Macbeth, after killing Duncan, believes he will never sleep again.
Analysis:
Sleep symbolises peace and innocence—Macbeth has destroyed his own peace.
Foreshadows his descent into paranoia and Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking.
“Out, —— spot! —-, I say!”
“Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”
Theme: Guilt, Madness
Context: Lady Macbeth, sleepwalking, attempts to wash imaginary blood from her hands.
Analysis:
The “spot” represents her guilt—she cannot cleanse herself of the crime.
“Damned” suggests her fear of eternal punishment.
Contrast with Act 2, Scene 2, when she dismisses Macbeth’s guilt, showing her psychological downfall.
“All the ——– of —— will not sweeten this little —-.”
“All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.”
Theme: Guilt, Madness
Context: Lady Macbeth, sleepwalking, imagines blood on her hands.
Analysis:
Contrast with “A little water clears us of the deed” shows her psychological collapse.
“Perfumes of Arabia” suggest no external force can remove her guilt.
“A little —– clears us of the —-.”
“A little water clears us of the deed.”
Theme: Deception, Underestimation of Guilt
Context: Lady Macbeth reassures Macbeth after Duncan’s murder.
Analysis:
Dramatic irony—she later realises guilt is inescapable.
Contrast with Macbeth’s belief that all the oceans cannot wash away the blood.
“O, full of ——– is my mind, dear —-!”
“O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!”
Theme: Ambition, Paranoia
Context: Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth he is tormented by Banquo’s existence.
Analysis:
“Scorpions” symbolise his restless, poisonous thoughts—his mind is filled with deadly intent.
Shows his descent into paranoia—no longer needs Lady Macbeth’s persuasion.
Marks his shift towards ruthless violence (ordering Banquo’s murder).
“So —- and —- a day I have not seen.”
“So foul and fair a day I have not seen.”
Theme: Supernatural, Fate
Context: Macbeth’s first words echo the witches’ paradox.
Analysis:
Foreshadows the theme of appearance vs. reality.
Suggests his fate is already intertwined with the witches’ prophecies.
“Never —– thy gory —- at me!”
“Never shake thy gory locks at me!”
Theme: Guilt, Hallucination
Context: Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost at the banquet.
Analysis:
“Gory locks” symbolise Banquo’s murder, which haunts Macbeth.
Shows Macbeth’s paranoia—his guilt manifests physically.
“This —–, whose sole name ——- our tongues,”
“This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,”
Theme: Tyranny, Justice
Context: Malcolm and Macduff discuss Macbeth’s rule.
Analysis:
“Blisters our tongues” suggests Macbeth’s name is cursed and detestable.
Reinforces how far Macbeth has fallen from noble beginnings.
“his —— will plead like ——”
“his virtues will plead like angels”
Theme: Kingship, Morality
Context: Macbeth hesitates before killing Duncan.
Analysis:
Duncan’s goodness is emphasised—murdering him is unnatural.
Contrast with Macbeth’s later tyranny.
“look like th’innocent ——, but be the ——- under’t”
“look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”
Theme: Deception, Manipulation
Context: Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth on how to appear trustworthy while planning murder.
Analysis:
Biblical allusion to the serpent in the Garden of Eden—links to temptation and evil.
“Innocent flower” vs. “serpent” reinforces the theme of appearance vs. reality.
Demonstrates Lady Macbeth’s power and control over Macbeth.
“Be ——– of the knowledge, dearest —–.”
“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck.”
Theme: Power Shift, Secrecy
Context: Macbeth keeps Lady Macbeth unaware of Banquo’s murder.
Analysis:
Shows Macbeth’s increasing independence—he no longer needs her manipulation.
“Chuck” is condescending, reflecting the changing power dynamic.
