Macbeth Key Quotes Flashcards
Opening line of play, said by witches (to prepare audience for the supernatural theme) , they are discussing the weather and saying that disruption has already started in the natural world, it’s an oxymoron (showing things aren’t always as they appear)
‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’
Macbeth’s actions in battle are described to Macbeth, shows his violent nature and what he is capable of doing
‘Unseam’d him from nave to th’chops’
What King Duncan says about Macbeth at the beginning of the play (Act one scene two), shows Macbeth is trusted, ‘cousin’ suggesting family and trust
‘O valiant cousin, worthy gentlemen’
Banquo knows that the supernatural is evil so is confused why they speak the positive truth, this is when Macbeth maybe starts to believe it, is this moment the start of his downfall?
‘What, can the devil speak true?’
Macbeth decides he is not going to take any action into becoming King as if fate decided he can be king, he does not need to take any action in making it happen.
‘If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me / Without my stir.’
There is a running motif about dressing up in the play, Macbeth recognises he is dressing up to be something he is not by being the Thane of Cawdor
‘Why do you dress me in borrow’d robes?’
Macbeth’s first words on stage, shows that he knows about the trouble , foreshadows the conflict that is to come, could show how Macbeth’s thoughts and emotions are mixed.
‘So foul and fair a day I have not seen’
Followed by a caesura, he knows what he wants is wrong and he is going against the stars (the great chain of being)
‘Stars, hide your fires’
What Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth after making her desires clear to Macbeth, she’s pushing Macbeth into it, would he have done it on his own?
‘Look like th’innocent flower’
Lady Macbeth says this to the spirits as she worries that Macbeth is too good to kill Duncan, different in Shakespeare times when woman were supposed to be care givers but she wants to be able to be more cruel
‘Unsex me here’
