Macbeth Flashcards
The witches say this at the beginning of the play. It is spoken in paradoxes and later repeated in Act 1 Scene 3 by Macbeth. It shows how everything that looks pretty will turn ugly. This shows how appearances can be deceiving, which links to Duncan being too trusting.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”
[Act 1, Scene 1]
What rhetorical interrogative does Macbeth say during his soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 1? And what does it mean?
“Is this a dagger which I see before me?”
[Act 2, Scene 1]
It shows that Macbeth still feels guilt towards the crime he is about to commit and he hallucinates. He sees the instrument he is planning on using and can’t tell if it is real or not. It touches on mental health, which in the renaissance period, was viewed as a bad thing.
What does the quote “pour my spirits in thine ear” mean?
It shows Lady Macbeth’s dominance over Macbeth and their relationship. It shows how manipulative she is and how she can easily control what Macbeth does. It goes against ‘gender roles’ at the time, where women were seen as objects and shouldn’t be witty or clever, like Lady Macbeth is.
What does the quote ‘unsex me here’ suggest?
[Act 1, Scene 5]
It shows how Lady Macbeth thinks that feminism is holding her back from being strong and brave. It shows how she knows she should obey her husband, be quiet and not argue, but she wants to. She believes the only way she can acceptingly be ‘evil’ is if she isn’t a female.
What quote in Act 3, Scene 1, shows how Macbeth knows that Banquo is a natural king and he isn’t. What does it mean and show?
“Royalty of nature”
Banquo is the only man Macbeth is worried about. It develops the theme of nature and plants made throughout the full play.
What two contrasting, plant relating quotes explain Macbeth and Banquo in Act 5, Scene 1 and why?
Macbeth is described as ‘weeds’, which shows he isn’t respected and is disliked and annoying. It shows that people may want to get rid of him, just like they do weeds.
Banquo is described as a ‘flower’, something natural, beautiful and often given as a gift. This could suggest that he is ‘God given’.
What does the doctor say about mental illness which links to religion in Act 5 and what does it mean?
‘more needs she the divine than the physician[…] God, God forgive us all!’
It shows how the doctor believed that mental illness was an evil thing from the devil and only God could heal them, not the doctor.
‘Liver of a blaspheming Jew’
At the time, Jews were blamed for Jesus’ death and therefore strongly disliked. There was often many cases where small towns would gather the Jews and kill them all. Out of all the religious mentions, Jews were the only one with a gerund in front, emphasising the hatred.
‘look like th’innocent flower but be the serpent under’t’
Lady Macbeth is touching on Duncan’s weakness, appearing kind yet being the opposite deep down. She says that if you gain trust, act oblivious and appear kind, you will get away with it. It also links to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, where they were met with a serpent. It shows how the sin of it will stay for ever.
What two quotes suggests that deep down, Ldy Macbeth is weak in Act 2?
‘Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t’
‘That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold’
What quote emphasises the prostitution and pregnancy of a woman? What does it mean?
‘Finger of a birth-strangled babe, ditch delivered by a drab’
This shows that the woman didn’t want the baby, however ended up having it. ‘Drab’ means prostitute and it emphasis how we feel disgusted by it however, deep down the woman only done it as she had no money. She couldn’t afford to keep the baby.
What quote shows that Duncan’s flaw is he is too trusting. It shows he relies on appearances instead of personality.
‘There is no art to find the minds construction in the face’
[act 1 scene 4]
What quote said by Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 7 shows persuasion and manipulation over Macbeth by saying he doesn’t love her?
‘From this time, such I account thy love’
What quote said by Macbeth in Act 1 scene 7 shows that Macbeth knows ambition can be dangerous and he doesn’t want to kill Duncan?
‘I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’other’
What quote said by Macbeth in Act 2 shows his guilt metaphorically for killing Duncan?
‘Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hands’
