Macbeth Quotes Flashcards
‘fair is foul and foul is fair’ - the witches
Act 1 Scene 1
The alliteration of the “f’ sound creates a sinister, uneasy tone. The repetition of “fair” and “foul” suggests the two ideas are interchangeable, emphasised further by the definite “is”. “Foul” is more dominant and intimidating than “fair” is caring and pleasant - the evil element overpowers goodness. The King at the time, James I, wrote a book stating all magic was evil - this chant sounds almost like a magical spell, and the audience would fear it.
‘As cannons over-charged with double cracks.’ - sergeant
Act 1 Scene 2
Vocabulary such as “cannon” and “charged” gives the audience a sense of Macbeth’s explosive, violent power, as if he himself was a powerful weapon who is highly capable of killing. The alliteration of the strong “c” sound mimics the dynamic movements of Macbeth through the battlefield. The use of “over” and “double” highlights Macbeth has far more value than a typical soldier - he stands above the rest.
‘Too full of the milk of human kindness’
The suggestion Macbeth is “too full” implies he is not only good-natured, but he is “too” full - it will stop him achieving the crown. The image of “milk” has associations with a comforting and soothing nature - not the qualities Lady Macbeth thinks are required to become king. In Shakespearean context, it should be women who are gentle and kind, not men. It is significant she uses the phrase “human” kindness - she implies Macbeth needs to be inhuman, perhaps even supernatural like the witches, if he is to succeed.
‘Come, you spirits/that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here’ - Lady Macbeth
Act 1 Scene 5
The fact that Lady Macbeth invites the spirits with the phrase “Come, you spirits” shows she has embraced the supernatural whereas Macbeth seems nervous of its power. The phrase “unsex me here” is an explicit rejection of traditionally female behaviour. Lady Macbeth is rejecting the typical patriarchal society of the time. Not only is Lady Macbeth prepared to be cruel, but the adjective “direst” highlights the extreme lengths she is willing to go to.
‘Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t’ - Lady Macbeth
Act 1 Scene 5
The imagery of the “innocent flower” highlights the goodness, but also the vulnerability, of honest human behaviour. The juxtaposition with “the serpent under’t” is a clear biblical reference to the serpent in the Garden of Eden, who helped to bring original sin into the world. The audience would certainly link this with the Devil. This suggests Lady Macbeth would rather act like the devil than as a moral human being - like the witches, she sees that “fair is foul, and foul is fair.”» The word “under’t” implies evil is underneath all of our behaviour.
‘I would, while it was smiling in my face,/Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums,/And dashed the brains out’ - Lady Macbeth
Act 1 Scene 7
Lady Macbeth’s ability to feel no guilt is highlighted by the fact she believes she could kill her child even if it were “smiling in my face”, also showing her willingness to destroy something innocent. Her ruthless nature is accentuated by the speed with which she is willing to act - the words “plucked” and “dashed” both suggest swift, clinical movements. The use of the phrase “dashed the brains out” foreshadows the horrors acted children later in the play. She is again rejecting her traditional womanly upon role as a mother.
‘Is this a dagger I see before me?’ - Macbeth
Act 2 Scene 1
The question “Is this” is representative of Macbeth’s state of mind - he is full of uncertainty and doubt. The fact that it is a “dagger” before him suggests his mind has become corrupted by violence - the handle of the dagger is pointing towards his hand, almost inviting him to use it. In a patriarchal society, male leaders are not meant to have doubt - they are meant to be powerful, certain and strong. Macbeth has become a weaker warrior since the warfare on the battlefields in Act One.
‘But wherefore could not I pronounce Amen?/I had most need of blessing, and Amen/Stuck in my throat.’ - Macbeth
Act 2 Scene 2
Much like “Is this a dagger which I see before me?” the question is representative of Macbeth’s state of mind - he is full of uncertainty and doubt. His hesitancy contrasts greatly with the active behaviour of Lady Macbeth. The repetition of “Amen” brings religion to the audience’s attention - the fact it “stuck in [his] throat” implies Macbeth has acted so evilly that religion has turned against him - evil cannot co-exist with religion.
‘A little water clears us of this deed.’ - Lady Macbeth
Act 2 Scene 2
The use of the word “little” highlights just how insignificant murder is to Lady Macbeth, if only a “little water” is needed to wash it away. The fact that she believes washing their hands “clears us of the deed” suggests she would only feel regret if they were caught - “clears” implies she has got away with murder. She refers to “us” - in a patriarchal society, she sees herself as equal to her husband, and much like the witches, the audience see a powerful woman controlling Macbeth’s actions.
‘A falcon, towering in her pride of place,/Was by a mousing owl hawked at, and killed.’ - Old Man
Act 2 Scene 4
Just like kings should never be killed by their subjects, powerful falcons should not be killed by weak owls. Hierarchy was vital to a country’s stability. The Divine Right of Kings (the belief Kings were God’s voice on earth) meant hierarchy should not be challenged. The idea of a “mousing” owl, with associations of small size and lack of strength, killing a “towering” falcon, suggesting power and immense size, links with the unnatural idea of Macbeth killing the King.
‘There the grown serpent lies: the worm, that’s fled,/Hath nature that in time will venom breed.’ - Macbeth
Act 3 Scene 4
Macbeth initially describes Fleance as a “worm”, suggesting something that is small and helpless. However, he suggests it will grow into a “serpent”, linking back to the original sin of Adam and Eve, and will “breed” poison, emphasising to the audience that anger and violence in the play will grow and develop even further. “Will” confirms that these events are inevitable - evil is unstoppable, and “will” lead to poisonous consequences.
‘Though you untie the winds and let them fight/Against the churches.’ - Macbeth
Act 4 Scene 1
Here the churches are a personified symbol of morality and goodness - it would be distressing for the religious audience to see Christianity attacked in this way. The witches have deliberately turned the wind against it, with the word “fight” linking to the violent conflicts throughout the play. The fact they “untie” the winds has associations with a great power being unleashed against the moral goodness of the Church. Because the wind is attacking “against the churches” it seems as if the Church is passive and vulnerable to evil’s power.
‘Your wife and babes/Savagely slaughtered.’ - Ross
Act 4 Scene 3
The juxtaposition of “wife and babes”, images of innocence, love and care, being “savagely slaughtered” (the word savage suggesting an almost inhuman behaviour) indicates to the audience the level of violence and evil Macbeth now engages in. The sibilance of “savagely slaughtered” adds a swiftness to the sentence, a clear development from the hesitancy he showed before he killed Duncan.
‘Out, damned spot!’ - Lady Macbeth
Act 5 Scene 1
In Act Two, Lady Macbeth claims that, after killing King Duncan, “a little water clears us of this deed.” Now she is hallucinating, and desperately pleads for the blood to be washed away. It is ironic that when Macbeth desperately needed to clean his hands Lady Macbeth mocked him, but guilt is now having the same effect upon her behaviour. The fact she describes the blood spot as “damned” has associations with hell - her guilt has caught her, and she fears she is being punished. The religious audience could see this as divine punishment from God.
‘Life’s but a walking shadow.’ - Macbeth
Act 5 Scene 5
The use of the metaphor depicting life as a “shadow” suggests life is empty and has no meaning - it also has associations with following (our shadow follows us around) as if we are simply following someone else’s plan. The use of “walking” implies life is a journey, but not a dynamic, energetic one - walking is not the powerful, physical action seen in earlier acts, nor the dynamic action expected of a King. The sentence structure focuses on the word “but”, meaning only or just. Macbeth is arguing that life is worthless- it is only a shadow.
