Macbeth Ambition Quotes

Question 1

Predictions the witches made about Macbeth being King (G,C and H)

Answer 1

‘All hail MacBeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis.’
‘All hail MacBeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor.
‘All hail MacBeth, hail to thee, that shalt be king hereafter.’ (Witches)

Question 2

Predictions made by witches to Banquo (lesser - greater, not so happy - happier, get kings but wont’t be one)

Answer 2

‘Lesser than MacBeth, and greater.’
‘Not so happy, yet much happier.’
‘Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.’ (Witches)

Question 3

Macbeth knows the is no “chance” he won’t be king and “chance” won’t do it without his “stir”

Answer 3

‘If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me
Without my stir’ (MacBeth)

Question 4

Macbeth realises he must make “the Price of Cumberland” die/disappear

Answer 4

(Aside) ‘The Prince of Cumberland: that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap’ (Macbeth)

Question 5

Macbeth tells the stars to “let light not see my black and deep desires”

Answer 5

(Aside) ‘Stars, hide your fires,
Let light not see my black and deep desires’ (Macbeth)

Question 6

Lady Macbeth know Macbeth has a strong compassion and is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness”

Answer 6

‘yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way’ (Lady Macbeth)

Question 7

Lady Macbeth knows ambition is not enough and “illnes should attend it”

Answer 7

‘thou wouldst be great;
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it’ (Lady Macbeth)

Question 8

Lady Macbeth wanrs to persuade Macbeth by “pour my spirits in thine ear” ans seducing him

Answer 8

‘I may pour my spirits in thine ear; and chastise with the valour of my tongue all that impedes thee from the golden round” (Lady Macbeth)

Question 9

Lady Macbeth is calling on “you spirits” to take away her femininity (“unsex me here”) and to fill her with the “direst cruelty”

Answer 9

‘Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty!’ (Lady Macbeth)

Question 10

Macbeth is describing his lack of motivation and the only thing driving hi, is “vaulting ambition”

Answer 10

‘I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on the other.’ (Macbeth)