Macbeth Quotations Test

No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive

Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present

death,

And with his former title greet Macbeth.

I’ll see it done.

(1.2 72-74)

Speaker: King, Ross Listener: King, Ross

Context: The previous Thane of Cawdor had betrayed the King, therefore is now going to be killed and now Macbeth is going to be greeted as the new Thane of Cawdor.

Significance: These lines advance the plot as the death of the previous Thane, will now result in Macbeth being greeted as the new Thane, showing his descent into higher power.

Theme: Nemsis can be seen here because the old Thane is getting what he deserved.

Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange.

And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,

The instruments of darkness tell us truths,

Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s

(1.3 133-137)

Speaker: Banquo Listener: Macbeth (aside) 

Context: Angus came to inform Macbeth that he is now Thane of Cawdor, just like the witches had said he would be. Macbeth thinks what the witches said is true but Banquo thinks that the witches will say things to win us over but will bring harm. 

Significance: These lines show contrast between characters, as Banquo is someone who is cautious and Macbeth is someone who is naive and will quickly believe things without proper thought. 

Theme: Ambiguity can be seen here as, similar to the ambiguous nature of the Witches prophecies, Banquo is skeptical, and unlike Macbeth, more open to one fixed interpretation. He does not believe that the prophecies serve any good to Macbeth in reality.

The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step

On which I must fall down or else o’erleap,

For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;

Let not light see my black and deep desires.

The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be

Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.

(1.4 56-61)

Speaker: Macbeth Listener: Macbeth (himself)

Context: The king announces that his son will be the heir to the throne which makes Macbeth have another burden to get over in order to achieve the witches' prophecies. 

Significance: The significance of this passage is to develop conflict as Macbeth now has to find a way to get rid of the son as he is a burden to becoming King.

Theme: The passage highlights Macbeth's ambitious nature and his willingness to do whatever it takes to fulfill his desires, even if it means betraying Duncan, the current king.

Shall sun that morrow see!

Your face, my thane, is as a book where men

May read strange matters. To beguile the time,

Look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye,

Your hand, your tongue. Look like th’ innocent

flower,

But be the serpent under ’t. He that’s coming

Must be provided for; and you shall put

This night’s great business into my dispatch,

Which shall to all our nights and days to come

Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

(1.5 68-77)

Speaker: Lady Macbeth Listener: Macbeth 

Context: Lady Macbeth is urging Macbeth to conceal his true intentions and act innocently while plotting Duncan's murder. 

Significance: This passage provides characterization of Lady Macbeth as she is trying to control how Macbeth portrays himself saying “look like th’ innocent flower” but “be the serpent under”

Theme: Appearance vs. Reality. Lady Macbeth instructs Macbeth to appear welcoming and innocent while secretly planning Duncan's murder.

This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air

Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself

Unto our gentle senses. (1.6 1-3)

Speaker: The King (Duncan) Listener: Banquo 

Context: The king has arrived at Macbeth’s place and upon arrival mentions the pleasant location and the atmosphere of the castle. 

Significance: While Duncan perceives Macbeth's castle as a pleasant and sweet place, unaware of the treachery that awaits him, the audience knows the impending danger of his visit. This creates dramatic irony, where the audience is aware of something that the characters are not.

Theme:  Appearance vs. Reality. Duncan's remarks about the castle's pleasant seat and gentle atmosphere contrast sharply with the dark deeds that are about to take place within its walls.

If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well

It were done quickly. If th’ assassination

Could trammel up the consequence and catch

With his surcease success, that but this blow

Might be the be-all and the end-all here,

But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,

We’d jump the life to come. But in these cases

We still have judgment here, that we but teach

Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return

To plague th’ inventor. This even-handed justice

Commends th’ ingredience of our poisoned chalice

To our own lips. He’s here in double trust:

First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,

Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,

Who should against his murderer shut the door,

Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan

Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been

So clear in his great office, that his virtues

Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against

The deep damnation of his taking-off;

And pity, like a naked newborn babe

Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubin horsed

Upon the sightless couriers of the air,

Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur

To prick the sides of my intent, but only

Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself

And falls on th’ other—

(1.7 1-27)

Speaker: Macbeth Listener: Himself 

Context: Macbeth is contemplating the consequences of assassinating King Duncan. He is weighing the pros and cons of committing the murder and reflecting on the moral implications of his actions.

Significance: This passage showcases Macbeth's internal conflict. It demonstrates his awareness of the potential consequences of his actions and his struggle with his ambition versus his conscience.

Theme: Ambition and Guilt. Macbeth's soliloquy delves into the theme of ambition as he grapples with the temptation to seize power at any cost. He acknowledges that his ambition is the driving force behind his intent to murder Duncan but also recognizes the guilt and moral consequences of his actions.

So I lose none

In seeking to augment it, but still keep

My bosom franchised and allegiance clear,

I shall be counseled.

(2.1 33-36)

Speaker: Banquo Listener: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth tells Banquo, who is unable to sleep due to the dreams about the Weird Sisters and their prophecies, that they will discuss the matter later if Banquo is loyal. Banquo agrees, saying he will stick to Macbeth as long as his conscience is kept.

Significance: The significance of this passage is that it shows contrast between the characters. Banquo is represented as loyal to Macbeth, whereas on the contrary, Macbeth is disloyal and traitor to Duncan, who had gratitude and praise for the latter. 

Theme: The theme of good vs. evil is shown in this passage. Banquo chooses to be loyal and faithful in Macbeth, and to contrast, Macbeth decides to be evil, as he eventually kills Banquo to get rid of his worries and continues his injustice. Banquo’s display of loyalty can be seen as the good, whereas the betraying Macbeth can be seen as the evil.

Is this a dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch

thee.

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.

Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible

To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but

A dagger of the mind, a false creation

Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?

I see thee yet, in form as palpable

As this which now I draw.He draws his dagger.

Thou marshal’st me the way that I was going,

And such an instrument I was to use.

Mine eyes are made the fools o’ th’ other senses

Or else worth all the rest. I see thee still,

And, on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood,

Which was not so before. There’s no such thing.

It is the bloody business which informs

Thus to mine eyes. Now o’er the one-half world

Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse

The curtained sleep. Witchcraft celebrates

Pale Hecate’s off’rings, and withered murder,

Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf,

Whose howl’s his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,

With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his

design

Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth,

Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear

Thy very stones prate of my whereabouts

And take the present horror from the time,

Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives.

Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.

(2.1 41-69)

Speaker: Macbeth Listener: Himself 

Context: Macbeth is alone in his castle, preparing to carry out the murder of King Duncan. He is experiencing a hallucination of a dagger floating before him, which he interprets as a sign of the impending crime.

Significance: The significance of this passage is to develop an inner conflict within Macbeth as his hallucinations persuade him to continue with the murder of Duncan.

Theme: The theme of ambiguity is evident in this passage as Macbeth grapples with a moral dilemma, torn between his conscience and his ambition for power.

My hands are of your color, but I shame

To wear a heart so white.Knock.

I hear a knocking

At the south entry. Retire we to our chamber.

(2.2 76-80)

Speaker: Lady Macbeth Listener: Macbeth

Context: After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is trying to wash his hands but thinks that not even an ocean can wash it away. Lady Macbeth enters and says how her hands are also “bloody” but she would be ashamed if she “wear a heart so white”, meaning being a coward. They hear knocking at the doors, so they return to their chambers.

Significance: These lines signify the contrast between Lady Macbeth & Macbeth as Macbeth appears to be in distress and deep regret/guilt after the Murder of Duncan, while Lady Macbeth appears to be shaming her husband for having “a heart so white.” 

Theme: Good Vs. Evil. Macbeth displaying remorse and regret/guilt can be seen as the “good,” while Lady Macbeth who is remorseless can be seen as the “evil.’ 

Tis unnatural,

Even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last

A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place,

Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.

ROSS 

And Duncan’s horses (a thing most strange and

certain),

Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,

Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,

Contending ’gainst obedience, as they would

Make war with mankind.

(2.4 12-21)

Speaker: Old Man & Ross Listener: Themselves

Context: Ross & an Old Man are discussing the events that took place on the night of the Kings’ murder. The Old Man mentions that in his 70 years of life he has never seen anything like this. They describe the night as “unnatural” and if the horses were “at war with mankind.” 

Significance: These lines signify the pathetic fallacy that can be seen as a result of the King’s death. The horses, and owls, all nature representing the mood. For example, how the horses “wild in nature broke their stalls.” 

Theme: Order Vs. Disorder. The theme order vs. disorder can be seen here as a result of the King’s death. With the fall of the king, the rest of the hierarchy is collapsing. 

O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!

Thou mayst revenge—O slave!

(3.3 25-28)

Speaker: Banquo Listener: Fleance, Murderers 

Context: Like Macbeth had planned, the murderers had murdered Banquo but Fleance managed to escape. Banquo says “thou mayst revenge” meaning, Fleance must seek revenge for his death. 

Significance: These lines develop conflict between Macbeth and Fleance if Fleance learns that he was the one who arranged his father’s murder. Macbeth will now have to worry about Fleance as he may get in his way of his goals since the witches claimed that Banquo will be a father to a line of Kings. 

Theme: Betrayal. The theme of betrayal can be seen here as Macbeth betrays Banquo solely for power and the position to become King, not considering their friendship or having any remorse for him.