Macbeth Quotes Flashcards
“Brave Macbeth – Well he deserves that name”
This is at the start of the book, a complete contradiction to the “hell hound” he becomes at the end of the book
Macbeth “carved” through the Norwegian army with a sword that “smok’d of bloody execution”
Shows Macbeth’s lust for blood
The handle towards my hand? Come, let me clutch thee
When he’s confronted with the idea of killing Duncan, he immediately takes the dagger without hesitation. Showing there’s no chance for redemption any longer. He’s secomed to the darkness and is actively making the decision to kill Duncan
“Stars hide your fires”, “The moon is down”
This shows Macbeth having an inhuman quality to him as he has the ability to command time and space. Alongside that “stars hide your fires” is a representation of Macbeth’s willingness to Aline himself with darkness, “fires” being the light and goodness, which Macbeth is commanding to be hidden
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean was this blood clean from my hands?”
Shows the power Duncan held, also shows how such a powerful force is needed to wash away the ‘guilt’ of Duncan’s death
“I shame to wear a heart so white” - Lady Macbeth
Shows her displeasure in being associated with good
“His silver skin lac’d with his golden blood”
Shows his royalty of nature
“His gash’d stabs look like a breach in nature”
Shows the unnaturality of Duncan’s death
“And Duncan’s horses […] broke their stalls”
Shows how nature is destroying itself, there is a clear fight between mankind and nature after the death of Duncan
“His royalty of nature”
Macbeth acknowledges Banquo’s royalty of nature, and yet continues to kill him, showing yet again Macbeth destroying nature.
“To be thus is nothing, but to be safly thus”
Arrogance, shows his want for more, he’s on track to become king and he still want more
“Upon my head they plac’d a fruitless crown”
Euphemism for not being able to have kids
“The seeds of banquo”, “plac’d a fruitless crown”
Banquo is the antithesis of Macbeth, banquo is full of life, royalty and nature, while Macbeth is fruitless and unnatural
“All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”
Shows how evil Lady has become.
“Full of scorpions is my mind”
Macbeth going insane
