Macbeth Quotes: Act 1

Question 1

Lady Macbeths wishes to stop her sense of remorse or morality when she carries out the crime. Even goes a step further than Macbeth and decides on which weapon to kill him with

Answer 1

Come, thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes, nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark to cry ‘Hold, hold!’

Question 2

Lady Macbeth calls on evil spirits to detach her from her femininity to carry out such a callous crime

Answer 2

Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty

Question 3

Banquo describes Macbeth’s reaction when the witches predict he will be thane of cawdor and king

Answer 3

‘rapt withal’

Question 4

Lady Macbeth orders Macbeth to look innocent

Answer 4

Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t

Question 5

Macbeth ryhmes about how even the worst day will end and everything will take its course

Answer 5

Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day

Question 6

Macbeth comments how horrible the weather is despite their victorious battle, refers to the witches

Answer 6

So foul and fair a day I have not seen

Question 7

Macbeth describes his feelings as he contemplates killing Duncan to take the thrown

Answer 7

If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature? Present fears are less than horrible imaginings.

Question 8

King Duncan says his noblemen loyalty will shine like stars

Answer 8

But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine on all deservers

Question 9

Banquo says that Macbeth will get used to his title like people get used to new clothes. Clothes is a reoccuring motif in the play

Answer 9

New honours come upon him, like stranger garments, cleave not to their mould, but with the aid of use

Question 10

The witches famous quote showing their warped ethical views

Answer 10

Fair is foul and foul is fair hover through the fog and filthy air

Question 11

Macbeth wonders why angus and ross are dressing him up

Answer 11

why do you dress me in borrowed robes?

Question 12

Quote that suggests the three witches have the gift of prophecy

Answer 12

When the hurlyburly’s done, when the battle’s lost and won

Question 13

Macbeth refers to King Duncan describe noblemens’ loyalty shining like stars and wants his desires to be hidden

Answer 13

Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires

Question 14

Lady Macbeth, describes Macbeth as too kind despite the fact he is a warrior

Answer 14

Yet I do fear thy nature; it is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way.

Question 15

Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s Masculinity when he is hesitant to kill Duncan

Answer 15

When you durst do it, then you were a man;

Question 16

Macbeth is more determined than ever to kill Duncan after Lady Macbeth encourages him

Answer 16

I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false heart doth know

Question 17

Lady Macbeth dismisses Macbeth’s apprehension and tells him to man up

Answer 17

But screw your courage to the sticking-place and we’ll not fail

Question 18

Lady Macbeth would rather kill her own child than to break a promise like Macbeth

Answer 18

I have given suck, and know how tender tis to love the babe that milks me - I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.

Question 19

Macbeth says he has no reason to kill Duncan only ambition. Shows he is doubtful

Answer 19

I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on the other.