Macbeth: Key Quotations

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”

Act 1, Scene 1: The Witches.

Context: Introduction of supernatural themes.

“For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name”

Act 1, Scene 2: The Captain

Context: Macbeth is commended for his efforts.

“So foul and fair a day I have not seen”

Act 1, Scene 3: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth is talking to the witches.

“Stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires”

Act 1, Scene 4: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth is plotting against King Duncan.

“Come you spirts…unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe top full of direst cruelty.”

Act 1, Scene 5: Lady Macbeth

Context: Lady Macbeth is plotting against King Duncan.

“Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’it”

Act 1, Scene 6: Lady Macbeth

Context: Lady Macbeth plans to kill King Duncan.

“When you durst do it, then you were a man”

Act 1, Scene 7: Lady Macbeth

Context: Pre-murder of King Duncan.

“But screw your courage to the sticking place and we’ll not fail.”

Act 1, Scene 7: Lady Macbeth

Context: Pre-murder of King Duncan.

“Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle towards my hand?”

Act 2, Scene 1: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth hallucinates before killing King Duncan.

“Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures”

Act 2, Scene 2: Lady Macbeth

Context: Post-murder of King Duncan.

"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?"

Act 2, Scene 2: Macbeth

Context: Post-murder of King Duncan.

“A little water clears us of this deed”

Act 2, Scene 2: Lady Macbeth

Context: Post-murder of King Duncan.

“Wake Duncan with thy knocking, I would thou couldst.”

Act 2, Scene 2: Macbeth

Context: Post-murder of King Duncan.

“Oh horror! Horror! Horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive, nor name thee”

Act 2, Scene 3: Macduff

Context: King Duncan has been murdered.

“There’s daggers in men’s smiles”

Act 2, Scene 3: Donaldbain

Context: Post-murder of King Duncan.

“To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo stick deep”

Act 3, Scene 1: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth is crowned king.

“O’ full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife”

Act 3, Scene 2: Macbeth

Context: Guilty after ordering the murder of Banquo and Fleance.

“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed”

Act 3, Scene 2: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth attempts to murder Banquo.

“Thou canst not say I did it; never shake they gory locks at me”

Act 3, Scene 4: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth goes insane.

“My lord is often thus, and hath been from his youth”

Act 3, Scene 4: Lady Macbeth

Context: Macbeth goes insane.

“I am in blood stepp’d so far, that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’ver”

Act 3, Scene 4: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth goes insane.

“Something wicked this way comes”

Act 4, Scene 1: Witches

Context: Macbeth visits the witches.

“Speak, I charge you”

Act 4, Scene 1: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth attempts to control the supernatural events.

“From this moment, the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstling of my hand”

Act 4, Scene 1: Macbeth

Context: Happens shortly after Banquo’s murder. Macbeth’s ambition takes root.

“The castle of Macduff I will surprise; seize upon Fife.”

Act 4, Scene 1: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth is talking about his plans with the Witches.

“Macbeth is ripe for shaking, and the powers above put on their instrument”

Act 4, Scene 3: Malcolm

Context: Malcolm raises suspicion of Macbeth.

“Out, damned spot! Out, I say!... Will these hand ne’er be clean?”

Act 5, Scene 1: Lady Macbeth

Context: Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking

“All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”

Act 5, Scene 1: Lady Macbeth

Context: Lady Macbeth sleepwalks.

“My name’s Macbeth”

Act 5, Scene 7: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth is about to fight Macduff.

“Turn, hell-hound, turn…I have no words; my voice is in my sword”

Act 5, Scene 8: Macduff

Context: Macbeth is fighting Macduff.

“I bear a charmed life which must not yield to one of woman born”

Act 5, Scene 8: Macbeth

Context: Macbeth is fighting with Macduff.

“Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripp’d”

Act 5, Scene 8: Macduff

Context: Macbeth is fighting with Macduff.

“Behold where stands the usurper’s head”

Act 5, Scene 9: Macduff

Context: Macduff has slain Macbeth.

“His fiend-like queen who, as ‘tis thought, by self and violent hands took off her life”

Act 5, Scene 9: Malcolm

Context: Macduff has slain Macbeth.