MACBETHS INNER CONFLICT Flashcards
HOW DOES SHAKESPEARE PRESENT MACBETHS INNER CONFLICT
SOLILOQUIES AND MONOLOGUES - INSIGHT TO INNER THOUGHTS AND STRUGGLES - AUDIENCE WITNESSES HIS CONFLICTING EMOTIONS SUCH AS HIS AMBITION CLASHING WITH HIS MORAL CONSCIENCE
DIALOGUE WITH OTHER CHARACTERS - Lady Macbeth, Banquo, and the witches, reveals Macbeth’s inner conflict as he grapples with their influence and his own conscience.
interactions often highlight the tension between his ambition and his sense of morality.
Imagery and Symbolism: Shakespeare employs vivid imagery and symbolism to depict Macbeth’s inner turmoil. For example, the hallucination of the dagger before Duncan’s murder symbolizes his psychological struggle and moral descent.
INNER CONFLICT:SOLILOQUIES AND MONOLOGUES:QUOTES
“Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”
“If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well / It were done quickly.”
INNER CONFLICT:DIALOGUE WITH OTHER CHARACTERS:QUOTES
I am afraid to think what I have done; look on ’t again I dare not.”
“Full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife.”
“Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”
INNER CONFLICT:IMAGERY AND SYMBOLISM:QUOTES
Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand?”
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?
“Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.
expresses his desire for secrecy and concealment regarding his ambitious thoughts. He wishes for the stars to hide their light, symbolizing his wish to keep his dark and treacherous ambitions hidden from the world. The use of “black” and “deep desires” suggests that Macbeth’s ambitions are sinister and morally questionable. This line underscores Macbeth’s internal conflict between his ambition for power and his recognition of the darkness within himself.
If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well / It were done quickly.
Macbeth is contemplating the murder of King Duncan. He acknowledges that if the deed were accomplished and its consequences were already dealt with, it would be best to do it quickly. This quote illustrates Macbeth’s inner conflict between his ambition to become king and his moral conscience. On one hand, he desires the crown and the power it brings, but on the other hand, he struggles with the morality of committing regicide. The phrase “then ‘twere well / It were done quickly” suggests that Macbeth is trying to rationalize his actions by focusing on the potential benefits while ignoring the moral implications.
I am afraid to think what I have done; look on ’t again I dare not.”
he reveals the depth of his inner conflict and guilt. The phrase “I am afraid to think what I have done” highlights Macbeth’s fear and horror at his own actions. He is so overwhelmed by guilt that he cannot bear to dwell on the murder or examine it further. This quote reflects Macbeth’s internal struggle between his ambition and his conscience, as he grapples with the moral repercussions of his crime.
“Full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife.”
describes the torment he experiences as a result of his guilty conscience. The imagery of his mind being “full of scorpions” vividly conveys the intensity of his mental anguish and turmoil. Despite his outward appearance of power and authority, Macbeth is internally tormented by his guilt and paranoia. This quote demonstrates how Macbeth’s inner conflict continues to escalate as the consequences of his actions weigh heavily on his conscience.
“Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”
Lady Macbeth as she sleepwalks, trying to wash imaginary bloodstains from her hands. It symbolizes both her own guilt and Macbeth’s shared burden. The repeated use of “Out” emphasizes her desperate desire to rid herself of the guilt and remorse that plague her. This quote illustrates the psychological toll of their actions on both characters, highlighting the pervasive nature of their guilt and the inability to escape the consequences of their crimes.
