supernatural quotes

“fair is foul and foul is fair”

interpretation

Quote sets the tone of the play and..

Foreshadows

• Nothing will be as it seems in the play

• The ambiguity of the Witches’ prophecies

• The deceptiveness of the Witches

• Future deceptiveness of Macbeth - he adopts Witches’ morals

Paradox - two seemingly opposite ideas (foul/fair) are interchangeable

Links to the idea of appearance vs reality

Blurring of moral lines + consequences of Macbeth’s choices

“fair is foul and foul is fair”

Language analysis

• Alliteration of the sibilant "f' sound creates a sinister, uneasy tone.

• Repetition of "fair" and "foul" suggests the two ideas are interchangeable, emphasised further by the definite "is"

• "Foul" is more dominant and intimidating than "fair" is caring and pleasant - the evil element overpowers goodness.

• The King at the time, James I, wrote a book stating all magic was evil - this chant sounds almost like a magical spell, and the audience would fear it.

“Come you spirits… unsex me here… top-full of direst cruelty!”

Interpretation

Lady Macbeth seeks to be stripped of her feminine characteristics and replaced with masculine ruthlessness to achieve her ambition.

This quote reveals her desire to transcend societal limitations placed on women and become more powerful.

By calling upon the supernatural, she demonstrates her willingness to embrace dark forces and reject her own humanly nature to attain her goals. 

“Come you spirits… unsex me here… top-full of direst cruelty!”

Analysis

The fact that Lady Macbeth invites the spirits with the phrase "Come, you spirits" shows she has embraced the supernatural whereas Macbeth seems nervous of its power.

• A command - she wants the spirits to EMPOWER HER

• uses language of the Witches

The phrase "unsex me here" is an explicit rejection of traditionally female behaviour.

• Lady Macbeth is rejecting the typical patriarchal society of the time.

Not only is Lady Macbeth prepared to be cruel, but the adjective "direst" highlights the extreme lengths she is willing to go to.

“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”

Interpretation

Lady Macbeth shows that manipulation and deceit are the most effective methods of gaining power.

She’s acting like the witches - influenced by the supernatural

“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”

Language Analysis

COMMAND = shows LMacb’s power of Macb

Simile (like the innocent flower) links to the theme of deception

The imagery of the "innocent flower" highlights the goodness, but also the vulnerability, of honest human behaviour.

• flower = nature, its natural to want to be truthful

• Lady Macbeth embraces the supernatural

The juxtaposition with "the serpent under't" is a clear biblical reference to the serpent in the Garden of Eden, who helped to bring original sin into the world AGAINST GOD → links to how Macbeth will defy God

• The audience would link this with the Devil.

• This suggests Lady Macbeth would rather act like the devil than as a moral human being - like the witches, she sees that "fair is foul, and foul is fair."

  → The word "under't" implies evil is underneath all of our behaviour.