Macbeth Quotes + Themes

Act 1 Scene 2 - “Brave Macbeth - Well he deserves that name”

THEMES
- Ambition
- Appearance vs Reality

Adjective “Brave” Emphasises Macbeth’s worthy and valiant nature as he fights for his king. However also shows 2 things - King’s poor judge of character due to irony of betrayal.

“Deserves” foreshadows his braveness to do anything - ambition and downfall
Macbeth’s courage isn’t just descriptive, his actions back up his reputation.

Act 1 Scene 4 - “Let not light see my dark and deep desires”

THEMES
- Appearance vs Reality
- Ambition and Power
- Guilt

Insinuates how even before LM Macbeth had dark thoughts (killing the king).

“Light” - metaphor for God or people around him.

“Deep Desires” - alliteration - thoughts are deep inside them - he knows they are wrong and has to hide them.

Act 1 Scene 5 “Unsex me here, and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty”

THEMES
- Gender roles
- Supernatural

Verb “unsex” insinuates the her true supernatural intentions. Reduce her feminine qualities. To be powerful, she needs to sacrifice beauty and innocence.

“direst cruelty” - adjective “direst” the worst possible evil. Relates to the supernatural.

For a woman to become powerful, she had to become as masculine as possible

Act 1 Scene 7 - “When thou durst do it, then you were a man”

THEMES
- Gender roles
- Ambition

Emphasises the danger of a patriarchal society - It oppresses man. Macbeth had to be brave and confident in the eyes of his wife.

The verb “durst” asserts that society equates masculinity with bravery and action, pressuring men to conform to these ideals. Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth's courage, pushing him toward the act of regicide. She acts as the catalyst that brings her husband to carry out the heinous act of killing the king.

Act 2 Scene 2 - “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand”

THEMES
- Guilt
- Ambition
- Supernatual

“all great Neptune’s ocean” - (the vast sea) wouldn’t be enough to cleanse him. This conveys the enormity of his guilt.

symbolism of “blood” as a manifestation of guilt. It is no longer a physical stain but a psychological one.

Act 5 Scene 2 - “Out, Out brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow”

THEMES
- Guilt
- Ambition and Downfall

The repetition of “Out, out” conveys a sense of urgency, frustration, or despair, possibly reflecting Macbeth's hopeless acceptance of death.

The noun “Shadow” insinuates the futility and cyclical structure of Macbeth’s rise and fall. He has the brief realisation and sign of regret before he dies. It highlights the inner dichotomy within Macbeth and serves as a lesson for the audience as to whether it was worth it chasing a vision he had that was ultimately out of reach.

Act 1 Scene 5 - “Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t”

THEMES
- Appearance vs reality.
- Gender Roles

“innocent flower” - depicts deception and deceit - “serpent” symbolises danger, betrayal, and evil. Shakespeare uses a natural image (flower) to contrast with the biblical, sinister image (serpent). This overall methodical use of juxtaposing images insinuates the inner dichotomy and conflict that rages within Macbeth. His morals are at war, while his wife Lady Macbeth acts as that catalyst to diminish his principles.

This notion of control is reinforced through Lady Macbeth’s use of imperative verbs “look” and “be”. This emphasises her manipulation as she isn’t just advising Macbeth, she is demanding him to be duplicitous in nature by reshaping his masculinity.

Act 1 Scene 1 - “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”

THEMES
- Supernatural
- Fate

The use of equivocal language in “Fair” and “Foul” from the witches creates a sense of moral confusion. They explain how they want to destroy the natural order of this jacobean society leaving nothing but evil and destruction.

Furthermore, the repetition of the words “fair” and “foul”, insinuates how the witches not only create confusion, but also foreshadow the downfall of Macbeth’s character. He begins to believe that “foul” deeds (like murder) are justified if they lead to “fair” outcomes (the crown). The witches' language doesn't just predict the chaos — it causes it, infecting Macbeth’s mind with confusion and ambition.