Macbeth Quotes Flashcards
“Stars hide your fires,let not lights see my black and deep desires”
Witches told Macbeth their predictions.
He secretly wants this
He knows it is wrong to want this
“Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, And put a barren spectre in my gripe”
Metaphor
He has no children
Strikes his strength
Leads him to kill Banquo
“I am in blood stepped in so far, that should I wade no more.”
Trapped in a cycle of violence
Becoming paranoid
Not secure on throne
Can’t conceal horror at banquet
Guests becoming suspicious
“I have lived long enough. My way of life is fallen into the sear, the yellow leaf; And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have.”
Lost everything:
Good circle of friends
Happy marriage
Self respect
Gave it all up to be King and become a murderer
Separated himself/deeply unhappy/unfulfilled
“Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing,”
Wasn’t worth the struggle to obtain throne
Everything is meaningless
“Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it.”
He wants greatness
He has Ambition but doesn’t have it within him to murder
Lady Macbeth persuaded him to go through with murder
“This is a sorry sight”
Committed deadly sin
Hands are covered in blood
Instant guilt
Horrid/wretched sight
“To be thus is nothing But to be safely this.”
Has the throne
Can’t enjoy it
Filled with fear and anxiety
Scared someone will find out
“O valiant cousin, a worthy gentleman”
Duncan says to Macbeth
Proud he won in the battle
Shows he is loyal to King
Ironic as Macbeth later murders Duncan
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash the blood clean from my hand”
Overwhelmingly guilty
All the water in the world couldn’t cleanse him from this terrible sin
How wrong is actions were
‘Fair is foul and foul is fair”
Establishes the atmosphere
Dark and sinister
Introduces theme of the supernatural
Thunder and lightning
Witches play a major part in Macbeths downfall
“For brave Macbeth well he deserves that name.”
Courageous warrior
Loyal to the King
Highly respected for risking his life on the battlefield
Admirable, noble and distinguished solider
