Macbeth : Symbols

Question 1

Clothing
(importance of holy order)

Answer 1

‘Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?’

Question 2

Clothing
(marked by sins)

Answer 2

‘Steeped in the colours of their trade’

Question 3

Clothing
(Macbeth unfit as King)

Answer 3

‘Lest our old robes sit easier than our new’

Question 4

Biblical imagery
(righteous King Duncan)

Answer 4

‘His virtues will plead like angels’

Question 5

Biblical imagery
(corrupted by unholy sin of murder)

Answer 5

‘I could not say amen’

Question 6

Biblical imagery
(righteous King Edward)

Answer 6

‘Pious Edward’

Question 7

Blood
(plagued by guilt)

Answer 7

‘Bloody instructions, which being taught, return to plague the inventor’

Question 8

Blood
(stained soul)

Answer 8

‘Will all great neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?’

Question 9

Blood
(retribution)

Answer 9

‘blood will have blood’

Question 10

Sleep
(wicked corruption of innocence)

Answer 10

‘Wicked dreams abuse the curtained sleep’

Question 11

Sleep
(loss of innocence)

Answer 11

‘Macbeth shall sleep no more’

Question 12

Sleep
(guilt)

Answer 12

‘Terrible dreams shake us nightly’

Question 13

Sleep
(innocence)

Answer 13

‘Innocent sleep’

Question 14

Nature
(corruption by sin)

Answer 14

‘Nature seems dead’

Question 15

Nature
(disruption by sin)

Answer 15

‘Some say, the earth was feverous and did shake’

Question 16

Nature
(fertility of Banquo)

Answer 16

‘The root and father of many kings’

Question 17

Nature
(lack of fertility)
x2

Answer 17

‘Fruitless crown’
‘A barren sceptre’

Question 18

Scent
(sin)

Answer 18

‘all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand’