Macbeth Quote Analysis Flashcards
“When the battle is lost and won” Witches Act 1 Scene 1
He will win the literal battle but will lose his conscience and morality/soul
Riddles- show how they are not human, and how they use language to manipulate Macbeth (Duncan’s quote emphasises this)
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air” Witches Act 1 Scene 1
Subversion- adds confusion and contradiction… Equivocation
Hover- unbalanced, unstable imagery, blurs the lines between supernatural and reality.
Fog- Scottish witches
“Brave Macbeth”
Good soldier, loyal to Duncan. Duncan trusts him and views him v highly.
Second mention of Macbeth, violence is brave.
“What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath lost” Act 1 Scene 2 Duncan
Echo of the witches. Connects Macbeth to the witches again.
No riddle, emphasises Duncan’s goodness in contrast with the Witches darkness
“So foul and fair a day” Act 1 Scene 3 Macbeth
Links Macbeth to the witches, to their darkness/evilness. The witches draw out his darkness
“Shakes so my single state of man” Macbeth Act 1 Scene 3
Thinks himself a good man so is shocked how quickly he thinks of murder
“Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires” Macbeth Act 1 Scene 4
Malcolm is in his way and has to overcome this obstacle
Under the cover of darkness
“Yet I do fear thy nature, it is too full o’th milk of human kindness” Lady Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5
Thinks Macbeth is too nice for this act so wants to take it into her own hands
“Unsex me here”
Take away her feminine features, willing to sacrifice a part of her
Connects her to bad spirits
“Come thick night” “keen knife” Act 1 Scene 5 Lady Macbeth
Darkness
Keen- wants to commit this murder
“Vaulting ambition which o’er itself and falls on th’ other” Macbeth Act 1 Scene 7
Ambition, going too far.
He’s got the ambition to make the leap but can’t follow it through
“Be so much more the man” Lady Macbeth Act 1 Scene 7
She is manipulating him, using his masculinity against him
“In thunder, lightning, or in rain” Wicthes Act 1 Scene 1
Pathetic fallacy- macbeth’s conflicting emotions. also the storm is chaotic showing the chaos the witches are going to create.
Gothic setting
Frightening for the audience, makes them wary for rest of play.
“Have plucked the nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out” Act 1 Scene 7 Lady Macbeth
Psychological blackmail
Saying how far she would go
Doesn’t have motherly love anymore be of unsexing, typical role of woman
“False face must hide what the false heart doth know” Act 1 Scene 7 Macbeth
Looking innocent, concealment
Secrecy
