Macbeth Key quotes

'brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name'(A1, S2)

Themes : appearance vs reality

Betrayal

Ambition

- shows how macbeth is presented at the beginning of the play in contrast to how he is presented towards the end. AO1

- macbeth called 'brave' for defeating a traitor but he also becomes a traitor of the king, so dramatic irony, foreshadows the ending of the play as we know that his ambition will cause him to descend into tyranny AO1

- he is described as brave for killing in defence of the crown, however later on when he kills people for his own gain this is seen as wrong, shows how in Jacobean society the monarchy was a big thing and respect of the monarchy, and how killing is only right in defence of the crown AO1/AO3

- shows how noble Macbeth was at the beginning

- This quote sets up his initial greatness, making his eventual destruction feel even more inevitable and tragic. He fits the typical tragic hero as he has a harmatia/fatal flaw which is ambition in his case AO1

- this initial description of macbeth contrasts his tyrannical rule

- his bravery is a double edged sword he initially uses it for good, but then later on uses it for bad

- macbeth is arguably the bravest character in the play, as even though he killed duncan as he wanted to be king, many other nobles probaly wanted to be king but macbeth had the courage to take action despite being aware of the consequences of regicide

'' unseam'd from the nave to the chaps'' (A1, S2)

Themes : masculinity and power

violence

appearance vs reality

- hint at Macbeth's violent nature. His "bravery" is demonstrated through brutal slaughter (he "unseam'd" the traitor from "the nave to the chaps"), which could suggest that Macbeth's inclination toward violence was always present.

- establishes a violent bloody mood for the play from the outset foreshadowing how the rest of the play will turn out AO1

- The graphic imagery of splitting a man from his stomach to his jaw emphasizes Macbeth's brutality and physical power. It also conveys a sense of mercilessness, foreshadowing the bloodshed that will follow throughout the play. AO2

- Macbeth is initially celebrated for his bravery, but the audience soon realizes that his violent nature is a double-edged sword—it makes him a great warrior but also a dangerous tyrant. AO1

- The verb "unseamed" could metaphorically suggest that Macbeth is undoing the natural order. Just as he tears Macdonwald's body apart, he later tears apart Scotland's stability by killing Duncan and usurping the throne. AO2

-The act of splitting someone open could symbolically reflect Macbeth's own divided nature—initially loyal, then consumed by ambition and guilt. AO2

''stars hide your fires let not see my black and deep desires''(A1, S4)

Themes : appearance vs reality

ambition

kingship

- light could be a metaphor for God he wants his thoughts of regicide to be hidden from God because he knows that he would be going agsinst the divine right of kings appointed by God to rule, also shows that he is aware of the consequences of regicide AO2

- 'deep' these thoughts are part of him they are deep inside him, the supernatural and his ambition only acted as catalysts to bring these already present desires to fruition, maybe he was always like this and it was bound to happen ? (fate?) AO1

- reveals the power of the supernatural as just after one encounter they are able to change 'brave' and noble Macbeth, they are able to transform his entire character AO1

- reminds us of when duncan says that stars shine on those who are deserving, shows that Macbeth isn't deserving of kingship, fate rewards those who deserve it and Macbeth isn't deserving AO1

- he begins to speak in rhyming couplets showing how he ahs already been changed by the witches AO2

'' unsex me here crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty'' '' pall thee in the dunnest smokes of hell'' ( A1, S5)

Themes : gender and power

the supernatural

ambition

- wants to have her femininity removed, she wants to adopt the traits of masculinity such as violence and no remorse, the imperative shows her desperation for this, she sees femininity as a weakness she knows to become powerful she must adopt the traits of a man reveals the patriarchal nature of the time where men ruled everything AO2

- Shakespeare prevents her as powerful subverting gender roles however it could also be a warning to not let women overstep their place in society or bad things happen AO1

- her calling on spirits reveals her association with the supernatural it begs the question as to whether she is truly Macbeth's wife or just an instrument of fate AO1

- 'crown' symbolises her desire for power AO2

- a pall is a covering for dead bodies so it symbolises either the act of regicide that macbeth is going to commit or lady macbeth's suicide at the end of the play AO2

- she wishes to be covered in darkness which is ironic as at the end od the play she wishes to be rid of her guilt and instead tries to find the light ( God? redemption?) as she was always by a candle AO1

- she wants to feel no emotion could suggest internal conflict as she recognises the emotional burden of murder AO2

- the religious symbolism of hell, shows that lady m is aware of the significant consequences of regicide and that it could lead to eternal damnation AO2

- semantic field of death and hell almost as if she is casting a spell, as she calls on the spirits just as the witches did when they were with Hecate to fill Macbeth with hubris. Begs the question as to whether she is merely just an instrument of fate and supernatural?

- The supernatural act as a foil to expose the depths of human evil, she is not being manipulated by the supernatural she is willingly invitnig them in, she actively becomes a vessel for it

'' when you durst do it then you were a man''(A1, S7)

themes: gender roles

appearance vs reality

- reveals the danger of patriarchy, it opresses men, to be a man in jacobean society you had to be courageous and brave, lady macbeth plays on these known society norms and emasculates macbeth basically calling him a coward AO1/AO3

- also show how lady macbeth and macbeth have changed authority and gender roles (lady macbeth asks for masculine traits and macbeth gets emasculated)

- this was macbeth's tipping point, did he kill duncan due to his desire to want to be king or to prove that he's masculine to his wife? AO1

- She implies that Macbeth was more of a man when he dared to kill Duncan than when he hesitates now.

This redefines masculinity, linking it to violence and ambition rather than morality or honor. AO1

- lady macbeth thinks that being a man is to be violent however this isn't the reality and it isn't all that makes up a man, shows how shakespeare is trying to rewrite the idea of what masculinity is AO1/AO3

"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand"(A2, S2)

themes : guilt

ambition and its consequences

- He is already overcome with guilt, imagining that not even the vast ocean can cleanse him of his crime.

This contrasts with Lady Macbeth's dismissive attitude ("A little water clears us of this deed."), showing how differently they handle guilt, however irony as lady macbeth descends into madness as a result of her guilt, she was just an instrument of fate to spur macbeth once macbeth was too far gone she almost became irrelevant as after commiting that act of regicide macbeth's fate had already been sealed

- neptune is the roman god of the sea by referencing a divine force it implies that his deed is so unforgivable that not even a God can purify him

- blood is a recurring motif of guilt and violence throughout the play, the verb 'wash' shows his attempt and wish to purify himself but the rhetorical questions hows that he is unsure and paranoid which reflects the nature of his later tyrannical reign full of paranoia and instability

"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow" '' poor player'' ( A5, S5)

Theme : appearance vs reality

fate and free will

ambition and its consequences

- brief candle is a metaphor for life and reveals the transcient nature of life

- shadow represents what you want in life in macbeth's case power however you are always chasing a shadow revealing that chasing such things in life is pointless because you always want more and that greed and ambition keeps on growing until it can no longer be controlled eg. first macbeth wanted to be king but then he also wanted his lienage to be king

- 'shadow' also reveals macbeth's association with darkness

- he considers his mortaility he is being nihilistic the candle is a metaphor for his life, also allures to lady macbeth's out damned spot

- The verb "walking" adds a sense of aimlessness, implying that life is directionless and futile. This reflects Macbeth's disillusionment, as he realizes that his ambition has led to nothing but his downfall

- hegemonic masculinity shown as he keeps up his strong front and doesn't weep after hearing of lady macbeth's death, almost as if he is proving that lady macbeth was wrong to question his manhood

- this moment of vulnerability is so that the audience sympathises with macbeth as he wouldn't be the tragic hero shakespeare intended for him to be unless the audience felt bad for him

- fate vs free will he compares life to a theatre act showing that maybe all this was meant to happen and that fate trumps free will, could also be macbeth refusing to take responsibility for his actions

- The repetition of "out" conveys urgency and finality, almost as if Macbeth is commanding life to end

- Macbeth compares life to theatre, suggesting that everything people do is false and performative.

This reinforces the play's theme of deception, as Macbeth himself played the role of a noble king, but was ultimately a tyrant.

"Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under't"(A1, S5)

Themes : appearance vs reality

corrupting influence of ambition how it leads to moral decay

- she advises macbeth to appear harmless and welcoming while plotting treachery, this moment establishes lady macbeth's dominant and manipulative role showing how she guides macbeth into deception and evil AO1

- '' look like'' implies deception and performance, ''innocent flower'' symbolizes beauty, purity and harmlessness reinforcing how lady macbeth wants macbeth to appear trustworthy and noble

- the ''serpent'' alludes to satan in the garden of eden who deceived sin, shows how lady M is encouraging macbeth to embrace evil, just as the serpent led humanity to its downfall lady M is leading macbeth to his downfall reinforcing her as being part of the supernatural to tempt macbeth to do wrong

- Macbeth follows Lady Macbeth's advice, but later in the play, he becomes so consumed by power and paranoia that he no longer needs her manipulation. AO1

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair"(A1, S1) '' so foul and fair a day I have not seen''

Themes: appearance vs reality

power of the supernatural

- Macbeth shows his association to the witches before he even meets them as he mirrors their language, shows his association to the supernatural and perhaps this was already fated to happen perhaps Shakespeare is urging his audience to think about the authenticity of life and whether we really do have control over our lives AO1

- the witches speak in paradoxes to show that everything is not as it seems, sets up the play's main theme of appearance vs reality also shows how everything in this play is twisted upside down eg. brave macbeth becomes nasty macbeth AO1

- The juxtaposition of opposites in "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" creates a sense of contradiction and instability.

It suggests that morality is inverted in the play—what appears to be good (fair) may actually be evil (foul), and vice versa. AO2

- also foreshadows the end of the play where macbeth realises that the witches played him, the prophecies sounded 'fair' but he realized too late that they were 'foul' leading him to destruction AO1

- The phrase "foul is fair" suggests that evil can appear attractive, just as Macbeth later sees murder as a path to power rather than a moral crime. AO2

- This subtle linguistic mirroring foreshadows how Macbeth will later adopt their morally corrupt worldview. AO1

"The instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray's in deepest consequence" (A1, S3)

Themes : the supernatural

betrayal

appearance vs reality

fate vs free will

- the word 'instruments' shows that they are merely tools for a greater power such as the devil to ruin things, it is a metaphor for the witchs being servants of evil forces

- Banquo's warning suggests that the witches can influence events, but they do not control Macbeth's actions.

This raises the central question: Is Macbeth a victim of fate, or does he choose his own downfall? AO1

Shakespeare leaves this deliberately ambiguous, forcing the audience to reflect on human nature and ambition. AO1

- The prophecies awaken Macbeth's darkest ambitions, pushing him to kill Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff's family.

This shows how small temptations (honest trifles) can lead to extreme consequences (deepest consequence). AO1

- Banquo is presented as a foil to Macbeth ( lesser than macbeth and greater'' lesser in terms of status but morally better)—while Macbeth is eager to believe the witches, Banquo is more skeptical and cautious, shakespeare presents banquo as a rational and noble character as he also got a prophecy to say that his sons will be kings however he took ti humbly and didn't try to intervene and accelerate things reinforcing that macbeth's downfall is due to his choices and not fate AO1

- 'deepest consequence' suggests that dangers lie ahead in believing the witches

'' out damned spot out i say'' ( A5, S5)

Themes : guilt

supernatural

divine punishment

- The forceful imperative verb "Out" highlights her loss of control—earlier in the play, she commanded Macbeth confidently, but now she cannot command her own mind.

- The word "damned" suggests that she fears eternal punishment in Hell, linking to the Christian belief in divine justice. The "spot" refers to an imaginary bloodstain, a symbol of her psychological torment—her past crime physically manifests in her mind.

-her short, abrupt phrases show her mental instability—she no longer speaks in controlled, persuasive language like earlier in the play. AO1

- earlier on in the play she told macbeth 'a little water clears us of this deed' however now she's obsessed with washing imaginary blood from her hands AO1

- it reveals her desire to be in control as once macbeth took the reigns and didn't involve her anything anymore she began to deteriorate, perhaps she is afraid of being vulnerable and feminine and doesn't want to conform to hegemonic femninity, perhaps this contributed to her madness AO1

- Earlier, she was dominant and manipulative, now she is powerless, lost in madness, and completely alone.

The sleepwalking is a physical manifestation of her guilt, showing that she cannot escape the consequences of her actions. AO1

- This moment serves as a turning point in the play, as Lady Macbeth's madness foreshadows her suicide and reinforces the idea that power gained through immoral means leads to inevitable destruction. AO1

- her inability to remove the imaginary stain of blood shows that she is eternally stained/already destined for eternal damnation and nothing can save her

'' there are daggers in men's smiles'' ( A2, S3)

Themes : appearance vs reality

betrayal

corrupting power of ambition

- Donalbain’s suspicion also foreshadows the treachery that Macbeth embodies — though Macbeth appears loyal and shocked by Duncan’s death, the audience knows he is the murderer.

- The quote also reflects how the natural order has been overturned; trust between people has been destroyed, and even family cannot be sure of each other’s loyalty. It signals a world where ambition and power have corrupted morality.

- captures the deep sense of mistrust and deception that spreads through the play after Duncan’s murder. His metaphor suggests that beneath friendly appearances, there is hidden violence and betrayal — the "smiles" are a disguise for "daggers," just as Macbeth hides his murderous intentions behind a mask of loyalty.

- Shakespeare explores how unnatural acts like murder breed widespread paranoia, destabilising the entire kingdom — a warning against disturbing the divine order.

- Donalbain does not say "a dagger", but "daggers", implying that many people in the court are untrustworthy.

This reflects the paranoia and instability that follows Duncan's murder—Macbeth is not the only one capable of deception.

how is kingship presented in the play

1. as a symbol of power

2. presented through exploration of legitimate kingship vs illegitimate kingship

3. presented as a highly coveted position

‘‘ all hail macbeth that shalt be king hereafter’’

KINGSHIP

• the repitition of hail mimcs the way subjects would greet a king making their prophecy seem like a coronation, plays on macbeth’s lust for power as they give him a glimpse of the worship he would receive as king

• this moment is hwere macbeth’s obsession and lust for power began

• progression of titles ( first all hail thane of glamis then cawdor then king) shows his rise to power and being king as the pinaccle of power

• the witches plant the idea of kingship in macbeth’s mind presenting it as the ultimate form of power and somehting to be taken not earned through character

when lady macbeth says that macbeth will be ‘‘so much more the man’’

KINGSHIP

• presents kingship as the ultimate form of power as Jacobean society was a patriarchal society where men were in control, so the significance of macbeth being ‘‘so much more the man’’ is that he’ll hold significantly more power by becoming king

• she equates kingship to power and a symbol of ultimate male dominance

• shows how the witches warped the perception of kingship as it has now become a symbol of power and masculinity rather than it being seen as a divine role

‘‘ duncan hath borne his faculties so meek’’

KINGSHIP

• duncan has fullfilled his duties as king with integrity

• legitimate kingship is a role defined by virtue and humility

• macbeth acknowledges the fact that duncan is a good and virtuous king reinforcing the idea that a rightful king should be protected not murdered

• By admiring Duncan’s leadership, Macbeth unintentionally highlights the corrupt nature of his own ambitions. Macbeth is contemplating regicide not to serve Scotland but to satisfy his own vaulting ambition.

• Duncan represents the ideal, God-appointed king, while Macbeth — once he seizes the throne — becomes a tyrant who rules through fear and violence. The line therefore explores the theme of legitimacy vs usurpation: true kingship is rooted in moral authority, while illegitimate power leads to chaos and suffering.

‘‘ upon my head they placed a fruitless crown’’

KINGSHIP

• shakespeare uses this image to highlight that true kingship is more than just wearing the crown it must be earned and sustained through justice and divine approval

• his kingship becomes a symbol of temporary and unstable power rather than true authority leading to paranoia

• illegitimate kingship is unstable and will not last it is fruitless and won’t last as God’s plan : the divine right to rule of kings, will always prevail

• Grade 9 point - macbeth was always destined to fail. The story of macbeth alludes to christian ideology where satan was originally a servant of God however he rebelled due to excessive pride and ambition. He was cast down to earth and allowed to rule on earth until judgement day. In Macbeth Duncan is the divinely appointed king therefore he in a way acts as God on earth carrying out the will of God. Macbeth was originally his loyal servant until he became consumed with ambition and pride and he rebelled.He was then allowed to rule Scotland for some time however ultimately justice was served and he died. This reinforces his usurpation of the GCOB and how therefore he was always destined to fail

• the lexis of placed is unnatural shows that macbeth has manipulated his way into being king, shows that his kingship is unnatural and undeserved

• development of macbeth’s anagnorisis he is realising his inevitable downfall

how is guilt presented in macbeth

1. as a consequence of unchecked ambition

2. as a force that haunts the mind ( ‘‘ full of scorpions is my mind’’, ‘‘ my soul is too much charged with blood of thine already’’

3. it is presented through the supernatural ( when macbeth saw the ghost of banquo, when macbeth saw the dagger before him, Lady macbeth’s sleepwalking almost as if she’s possessed)