Macbeth quotes

ACT 1, SCENE 1

“when shall we three meet again, in thunder lightning or in rain?”

• immediately immerses the audience in a world of UNNATURAL DISTURBANCE and MORAL AMBIGUITY

• their UNRULY COMFORT in violent weather could imply that they are ALIGNED W CHAOS AND EVIL, rather than GOOD AND ORDER

• Shakespeare uses this opening to establish a DARK, OMINOUS ATMOSPHERE, preparing the audience for the TRAGIC DOWNFALL that follows.

• Shakespeare gives the witches such POWER and DOMINANCE (tells the whole play), THUNDER=whispers, LIGHTNING=acts of killing and RAIN=everyone getting “wet”/hurt

ACT 1, SCENE 1

“fair is foul, and foul is fair. hover through the fog and filthy air”

• PARADOXICAL language:

  • It shows that appearances are deceptive and moral boundaries are collapsing

• SHORT SYLLABLES, CHILDISH

  • shows that they are like kids playing a game, DON’T TRULY CARE FOR MACBETH

“Out, damned spot”

• imaginary spot, represents final and INDELIBLE mark of GUILT

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