The Supernatural Flashcards
A quote from when Macbeth and Banquo encounter the witches, who tell them that Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor and king, while Banquo’s sons will be kings. Banquo observes the danger in the witches, warning his friend, who chooses not to listen - Act 1, Scene 4
BANQUO: And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,/The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest confidence
A quote showing Macbeth’s devotion to the prophecy to the witches, and an already festering desire within him to be king. He treats them with far more sincerity than Banquo, who dismisses and mocks the witches - Act 1, Scene 4
MACBETH: Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more… Speak, I charge you
A quote showing, at the beginning of the play that, while he is invested in the witch’s prophecies, Macbeth is initially fearful and disgusted by the manner in which he knows he must take the kingship. The idea of the murder of Duncan initially fills him with guilt - Act 1, Scene 4
MACBETH: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion, whose horrid image doth unfix my hair an make my seated heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature?
Macbeth knows his actions to be terrible and evil, and feels guilt for them, begging the heavens not to view his wicked acts, fearing eternal damnation - Act 1, Scene 4
MACBETH: Stars, hide your fires,/Let not light see my black and deep desires
A quote suggesting Lady Macbeth, in contrast with her husband, to already be fully invested in the supernatural, demonstrating in her a complete lack of guilt for her proposed actions. She calls on supernatural beings to rid her of her female qualities so that she may commit heinous crimes and feel nothing as a result - Act 1, Scene 5
LADY MACBETH: Come, you spirits… And fill me from the crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty; make thick my blood, stop up th’access and passage to remorse
A quote demonstrating Macbeth’s significant guilt for his proposed actions, seeing himself as Satan-like, while Duncan’s death will set of an alarm in heaven, so wicked would his murder be
MACBETH: his virtues/ Will plead like angles, trumpet-tongued against/The deep damnation of his taking off
Macbeth views the dagger, wondering as to whether the it is a supernatural vision conjured by the guilt that he holds for the murder he will soon commit - Act 2, Scene 1
MACBETH: Or art thou but a dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
Macbeth sees his planned deeds as having disrupted the order of nature (the Great Chain of Being), and foreshadows his guilt, seeing a supernatural presence to torture his peace - Act 2, Scene 1
MACBETH: Now o’er the one half-world nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse the curtained sleep
A quote suggesting Macbeth is trying desperately to rid himself of the guilt of killing Banquo, suggesting he should feel no guilt having not committed the murder himself, but to no avail. No matter how hard he begs, Banquo’s ghost, a symbol of his guilt, continues to return - Act 3, Scene 4
MACBETH: Thou canst not say I did it; never shake/Thy gory locks at me!
Macbeth describes in detail the deceased and lifeless Banquo, as he feels his cold and merciless guilt staring upon him in the form of Banquo’s ghost. The lifeless appearance of Banquo scares him the most - Act 3, Scene 4
MACBETH: Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou has no speculation in those eyes which thou dost glare with
The vision of Banquo has changed Macbeth to be uncaring and merciless. He is now completely selfish and numb to his guilt, suggesting he will carry on committing his many murders in order to gain security as king - Act 3, Scene 4
MACBETH: For mine own good, all causes shall give way. I am in blood stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er
