Macbeth quotes and analysis Flashcards
Act 1 scene 2) For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name)
“brave” has connotations of fearlessness or being valiant in battle, showing that Macbeth was truly courageous in the previous battle and that he is well respected due to that
Act 1 scene 2) O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!
“worthy” has connotations of being deserving of reward or being an honourable man. This paired with the word choice of “cousin” meaning that Duncan considers himself to be very close to Macbeth and sees him as a man deserving of being in his close circle shows that Duncan respects Macbeth and sees him as a man deserving of his favour.
Act 1 scene 4) Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.
Personification is used here in the form of “stars hide your fires” as Macbeth is asking the stars to turn out their light so that he is encased in darkness and so that no one can see his dark and murderous thoughts or what he is plotting.
Act 1 scene 5) you shall put this night’s great business into my dispatch
Shakespeare uses tone in this quote to create the sense of command and authority. The use of the words “you shall put” gives an air of order or instruction, which would have been strange as the women did not usually command the man to do certain things in Shakespeare’s time period.
Act 1 scene 7) Art thou afeard?
A rhetorical question is used here, asking Macbeth if he is too scared and cowardly to commit this crime. She uses this to manipulate him as she is challenging his pride as a warrior
Act 5 scene 5) Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing
This phrase is about how Macbeth thinks that life is utterly meaningless in the end and that no matter how loud the world is at the time in the end it all meant naught. Shakespeare uses the word “nothing” in this phrase, which has connotations of his life being empty or that despite apparent fullness of life it is instead merely a facade and his life is meaningless.
Act 5 scene 5) juggling fiends
Shakespeare uses a metaphor in this phrase to compare the witches and their tricks to beings from hell that are constantly deceiving and manipulating him, and show that they are meddling evil creatures.
Act 5 scene) and damn’d be he who first cries “Hold! Enough”
Shakespeare uses tone in the form of anger to once more characterise macbeth as a warrior, willing to fight to the death. This makes his character arc go full circle from a noble warrior, to someone cowardly kills to keep the throne and back to someone willing to fight for valour, knowing it will mean nothing in the end.
