Macbeth Quotes

“Unseamed him from the name to th’ chops” 1:2

Seems like an unnecessary act of violence to kill his enemy/enemy of the country. May foreshadow his later downfall as he seems capable of extreme violence.

“memorise another Golgotha” 1:2

The captain compares Macbeth’s battlefield to the site of Christ’s crucifixion, likening him to a Christ-like saviour for Scotland. This creates the illusion that Macbeth’s heroism is of divine importance as his victory shows a moment of salvation for his country. This also shows the moral complexity of his character as the reference to Golgotha hints to his eventual downfall. Here Macbeth’s violence is validated.

“bloody daggers” 2:2

His appearance and the presence of blood on the stage conveys the brutality of the murder. The visual representation presents a gruesome scene to the audience. The fact he is using daggers in contrast to “brandished steel” symbolises his brutality.

“Amen stuck in my throat” 2:2

Repetition of 'Amen' shows that Macbeth recognises that he has committed a sin against the Christian God that is completely irredeemable. In the Jacobean times, the act of regicide is synonymous with an act against God as per the Divine Right of King states. Further proving his violent nature as even he understands the gravity of his vioence.

“All great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?” 2:2

Suggests that not only is Macbeth stained by the act of regicide, but nature has also been corrupted by this horrific crime, showing the vastness of the sin and how it will affect the whole country. However, this might foreshadow the bloodshed that will take place throughout Macbeth’s reign and the play. It also shows how he is no longer loyal to the moral and righteous crown or to the Christian God. He doubts his true ambition to become King as he feels immense guilt for the act of regicide.

“the best o’ th’ cutthroats” + “Twenty trenched gashes on his head” 3:4

The fact that he is praising the murderers for being the best at what they are at, further proves his descent into violence and brutality.

“His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls”

A vengeful and senseless killing because he suspects Macduff of betrayal as he didn’t show up to the banquet, not presenting his loyalty to Macbeth.

5:3

At the end, Macbeth’s violence is sustained even though he recognises that he will die at the hand of Macduf

Cyclical structure

The play begins with the beheading of a traitor (Macdonwald) and ends with the beheading of Macbeth, another traitor. This cyclical structure suggests that order has been restored. However, it could be argued that in this context of the gun powder plot, that Shakespeare is hinting at the idea that anybody could become a traitor. Macbeths violence is sustained as his relationships, feelings and motivations for the violence change.

Conclusion

Shakespeare uses dramatic devices to increasingly expose the audience to Macbeth's acts of violence. First, the murder of King Duncan happens offstage, perhaps reflecting his doubt. Then, as he becomes more corrupt as king, the 2 murders happen onstage, first the murder of Banquo, then the most senseless murder of all, the murder of Macduff's family. Increasing our antipathy of how corrupt he has become.

“Brave Macbeth” 1:2

Macbeth is a righteous, loyal and heroic soldier

Macbeth is rewarded for his loyalty with the title "thane of cawdor"

“Distaining fortune” 1:2

As a character, Macbeth is prepared to go against fate, and in this context is used to describe his valour and heroism. Yet, this may foreshadow a character trait within Macbeth, that he is prepared to go against the natural order.

“had I so sworn as you Have done to this”

If Lady Macbeth had made this promise to Macbeth, Macbeth cannot break this promise to Lady Macbeth. She is invoking the most powerful bonds of nature (his loyalty to her) in order to persuade Macbeth to break his bond with Duncan and stay with her.

3:1 plans to kill Banquo

His closest confident and kills him as he is scared of Banquo’s prophesy becoming true.

“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck” 3:2

Doesn't include her in the plan to kill Banquo, isn't treated as an equal. Previously he called her "my dearest partner of greatness", Macbeth saw her as her equal and she was included in all his plans, she planned the regicide and motivated him. But now he calls her "chuck" suggesting that he is now patronising her and she's no longer his equal. Lady Macbeth sustains her loyalty to Macbeth

Lady Macduff calls her husband a “Traitor” for leaving her and going to England. 4:1

Shakespeare uses this as a structural device. Macbeths acts of betrayal required him to be loyal to his wife, so in order for Macduff to reverse it Macduff has to be disloyal to his wife to be loyal to his country, to reverse the actions of Macbeth. The play then explores the idea of inner desires and feelings in conflict with public duty. This act restores order in the play.

Macduff’s act of loyalty as he beheaded Macbeth because he is loyal to the right crown. “Macbeth slain”

Begins with the beheading of a traitor by a morally righteous man (Macbeth) who is loyal to King. Macbeth is has betrayed the crown, no longer loyal to the valiant and moral side. Ends with the beheading of a traitor (Macbeth) by a man who is loyal to the correct order as an act of loyalty. The play ends with Macbeth who is now a traitor to the idea of the crown, being beheaded by the loyal servant of the rightful King, Macduff. Therefore loyalty and trust are major themes of this play because of the foiling of the gun powder plot.

“No man that’s born of woman Shall e’er have power upon thee” 5:3

Macbeth is now corrupted and is fighting for a side that solely represents him, he has become a tyrant. He is ruling by the supernatural, sickening both his wife and the country with a corrupt disease.

“The queen, my lord, is dead” (seyton) “She should have died hereafter” (Macbeth) 5:3

Heightened by the fact Lady Macbeth was still tending and loyal to Macbeth whilst she was deranged and broken. Enhancing his betrayal since she was loyal and tending to him until her death, and he no longer cared. This also presents how his ambition for power and a tyrannical rule has lead to him feeling no remorse or sadness when he death arrives, again hinting at his soon-to-be downfall.

“Thou shalt be King hereafter” 1:3, 1

Macbeth’s ambition is sparked by the witches in scene 1, act 3. Beforehand, he had never considered the idea of becoming King, this prophesy plants the idea into his mind as a possibility. The certainty implied in “shalt” suggests his destiny is to be King, which Macbeth might interpret as a sign that should pursue this. This also sparks Macbeths desire for power and status as the witches tempt him with it, presenting how much power the witches have over Macbeth.

“Shalt be What thou art promised” 1:5, 2

Lady Macbeth has already decided that Macbeth will be King, no matter the costs. She uses this line to reinforce Macbeth’s ambition as she wants to stiffen his resolve and make him actively pursue the crown as he is hesitant at the beginning. This also reveals Lady Macbeth’s ambition for Macbeth and herself for the uplifted status and power it comes with. She is ambitious for both of them, and this line reflects her determination to achieve those ambitions.

“vaulting ambition” 1:7, 1

When Macbeth uses this phrase, he seems to understand that this is the sole motivator leading him towards the murder of the King and he seems aware that it could lead to his downfall. The “vaulting ambition” is the driving force behind Macbeths actions, it propels him to commit heinous crimes that he may not have considered if not his excessive desire for power.

“When you durst do it, then you were a man” 1:7, 2

Lady Macbeth uses Macbeth’s ambition as leverage to manipulate his sense of masculinity in order to follow his ‘destiny’. She understands that in their society, being a ‘man’ is associated with courage, strength, and the willingness to take decisive action. She twists this, implying that true manhood lies in the ruthless pursuit of ambition.