Macbeth - Final Quotes

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies

Macbeth echoes the witches’ words from Scene 1

• pathetic fallacy

• paradox - foul because of the weather but fair because the battle has been won (but he’s also tired from it)

• foreshadowing - echoes witches’ words from the opening scene

So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies

Witches’ prophecies to Macbeth

• dramatic irony because we know he is about to be named Thane of Cawdor, making us think that the final prophecy could also come true

All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies

Banquo asks to hear his fate

• idea of fate being developed by Shakespeare

If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not…

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies

Banquo’s prophecy

• antithesis - Banquo is more honourable than Macbeth, but Macbeth will rise higher in the ranks; Banquo himself won’t be king but his lineage will ‘get’ kings

“Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Not so happy, yet much happier. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.”

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies

Macbeth’s response to being hailed king - he doesn’t believe it’s possible

…to be king stands not within the prospect of belief.

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies

Banquo thinking they’ve gone crazy after seeing the witches

• foreshadowing - the prophecies will take over Macbeth’s mind as he will become obsessed with his fortune of becoming king

…have we eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner?

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies

Macbeth is named Thane of Cawdor

• clothing motif

• foreshadowing usurping (taking with force, without permission) the throne

The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me in borrow’d robes

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies

• shows Elizabethan beliefs, explaining why the original thane of Cawdor was killed

But treasons capital, confess’d and proved, have overthrown him

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies

Macbeth begins to hope and believe he could become king after being named Thane of Cawdor - this is what eventually leads to him usurping the throne by becoming impatient

Two truths are told, as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies

• the beginning of Macbeth’s temptation as he realises that the prophecy is good but his consideration of regicide is evil

If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs…

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies

Macbeth decides to leave it up to fate and not interfere

• fate vs free will theme

If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir

Key Moment #1 - Prophecies (Duncan is welcomed)

• Macbeth soliloquy aside

• Malcolm named Prince of Cumberland

• Macbeth must overcome this obstacle or abandon his desire to be king

• light vs dark motif = good vs evil

• stars symbolise power and goodness so he tries to hide from them

That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap… Stars, hide your fire, let not light see my black and deep desires.

Key Moment #2 - Lady Macbeth Soliloquy

Lady Macbeth realises that Macbeth is too kind to kill Duncan to reach the throne faster

…yet I do fear thy nature; it is too full o’th’milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way

Key Moment #2 - Lady Macbeth Soliloquy

Lady Macbeth recognises Macbeth’s ambition but realises that she must convince him to kill the king

Thou wouldst be great; art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it.

Key Moment #2 - Lady Macbeth Soliloquy

• Lady Macbeth plans to convince Macbeth

Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear.

Key Moment #2 - Lady Macbeth Soliloquy

Lady Macbeth calls to evil spirits to make her evil too

• gender roles theme

• Lady Macbeth is overcome with ambition and abandons her morals to seize the throne

Unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty!…Come to my woman’s breasts, and take my milk for gall…”

Context Quotes

Duncan talks of Macbeth deserving the title more than the Thane of Cawdor

• paradox

• foreshadowing betrayal

What he lost noble Macbeth hath won

Key Moment #3 - Plotting/Spurring

Macbeth wants to kill the king quickly and without consequence

If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly

Key Moment #3 - Plotting/Spurring

Macbeth has doubts as the king trusts him and Macbeth is his host/kinsman

He’s here in double trust

Key Moment #3 - Plotting/Spurring

Macbeth recognises he does not have the means or courage to kill the king but only blind ambition

I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’other

Key Moment #3 - Plotting/Spurring

Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth he will not go through with the deed and disregard/disrespect his new title/reputation

We will proceed no further in this business…I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people, which would be worn now in their newest gloss, not cast aside so soon.

Key Moment #3 - Plotting/Spurring

Lady Macbeth mocks Macbeth’s drunken confidence that has now turned into weakness

• clothing motif

Was the hope drunk wherein you dress’d yourself?

Key Moment #3 - Plotting/Spurring

Macbeth recognises that he could lose his nobility if they go through with it and recognises the importance of humility

• gender roles theme

I dare do all that may become a man; who dares do more is none.

Key Moment #3 - Plotting/Spurring

Lady Macbeth insults Macbeth’s masculinity and told him he was a man before but he is no longer a man unless he goes through with their plan

• gender roles theme

When you durst do it, then you were a man; and, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man.

Key Moment #3 - Plotting/Spurring

Lady Macbeth is seen as evil as she tells Macbeth she would’ve abused her own child if she had promised to do so to him

• gender roles theme

I have given suck, and know how tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, and dash’d the brain out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.

Key Moment #3 - Plotting/Spurring

Lady Macbeth believes all they need is courage and ambition to succeed

We fail! But screw your courage to the sticking-place, and we’ll not fail.

Key Moment #3 - Plotting/Spurring

Lady Macbeth tries to convince Macbeth there’s no way they could fail while Duncan is vulnerable

• this mindset works for them initially but leads to their eventual downfall

What cannot you and I perform upon the unguarded Duncan?

Key Moment #3 - Plotting/Spurring

Macbeth is impressed by Lady Macbeth’s ‘masculine’ qualities and tells her she should pass them own to their lineage

• gender roles theme

Bring forth men-children only; for thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males.

Key Moment #4 - Macbeth kills Duncan

Dagger hallucination

• Macbeth requires hallucinations to enforce/catalyse his ambition - they are his spur

Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?

Key Moment #4 - Macbeth kills Duncan

Banquo describes the sky to Fleance

• light vs dark motif

• foreshadowing as Macbeth’s ‘stars, hide your fires’ soliloquy has come true, indicating what’s about to happen

Their candles are all out.

Key Moment #4 - Macbeth kills Duncan

• antithesis - by doing the deed, Macbeth will either go to heaven (by becoming king/achieving his goal) or hell (being caught)

Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell

Key Moment #4 - Macbeth kills Duncan

Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that his bloody hands are a good thing, as they are a symbol of their success

A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.

Key Moment #4 - Macbeth kills Duncan

Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth he must not overthink the murmuring of the sleeping servants as it will drive him crazy

• foreshadowing

• dramatic irony - Macbeth is mad with ambition already

These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad.

Key Moment #4 - Macbeth kills Duncan

Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth how he hallucinated voices as he killed Duncan and how they were scared of him

Macbeth does murder sleep

Key Moment #4 - Macbeth kills Duncan

Macbeth overcome with guilt at what he is done that he refuses to return to the scene

I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on’t again I dare not.

Key Moment #4 - Macbeth kills Duncan

Macbeth tries to wash the blood from his hands

• whose hands are these? Would an ocean of water be enough to make them clean?

• echoes Lady Macbeth’s future lines after she goes insane (‘what, will these hands ne’er be clean?"‘)

• blood/hand-washing motif

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

Key Moment #4 - Macbeth kills Duncan

Lady Macbeth returns from the scene covered in blood and mocks Macbeth for his lack of courage

• gender roles theme

• blood motif

My hands are of your colour; but I shame to wear a heart so white

Key Moment #4 - Macbeth kills Duncan

Macbeth seems to show regret as he hears knocking that he wishes would wake Duncan

Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

Banquo grows suspicious of Macbeth’s rise to the throne

Thou hast is now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promised, and, I fear, thou play’dst most foully for’t

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

Macbeth telling his guests to have free time and enjoy themselves until the banquet begins

• fate vs freewill theme

Let every man be master of his time

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

Macbeth fears Banquo and realises that he needs to kill him to keep the throne - his ambition takes over

To be thus is nothing; but to be safely thus

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

Macbeth justifying murdering Banquo

• Macbeth shall not have any heirs

• He has gone through all the torture of killing Duncan to become king and it will be Banquo’s lineage that will get the throne in the end so he must kill Banquo so the Macbeths can secure the throne forever

Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown… If’t be so, for Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

Macbeth tells the murderers they must kill Fleance too

• fate vs free will theme - Banquo poses no real threat to Macbeth, only his lineage

…and with him, to leave no rubs nor botches in the work, Fleance his son, that keep him company

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

Development of Macbeth’s corruption as he tells Lady Macbeth of his poisoned mind, and cuts her out of the plans

O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!… Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

Fleance symbolises innocence in death scene

• light vs dark motif

A light, a light! (Fleance holding)

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

Macbeth learns of Banquo’s death and Fleance’s escape and becomes panicked again

I am cabin’d, cribb’d, confined, bound in to saucy doubts and fears

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

Macbeth hallucinates Banquo’s ghost, which shakes his head at him in disapproval and disappointment

never shake thy gory locks at me

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

Lady Macbeth asks Macbeth where his masculine qualities have gone as he freaks out over Banquo’s ghost

Are you a man?

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

After Banquo’s ghost leaves, Macbeth reflects

• violence will beget violence and there will be consequences for his actions

It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood.

Key Moment #5 - Banquo & Fleance’s Deaths

Macbeth decides that he’s too far gone and has to continue down this path

• fate vs free will theme

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

Key Moment #6 - Witches’ Apparitions

Apparition #1 - Armed head

Beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife

Key Moment #6 - Witches’ Apparitions

Apparition #1 - Armed head

• Macbeth’s response, thankful and cautious

Whate’er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks; thou hast harp’d my fear aright

Key Moment #6 - Witches’ Apparitions

Apparition #2 - Bloody child

…laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth

Key Moment #6 - Witches’ Apparitions

Apparition #2 - Bloody child

• Macbeth’s response - almost arrogant but remind himself to be cautious and sure

• murder is easy for him now

Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure… thou shalt not live…

Key Moment #6 - Witches’ Apparitions

Apparition #3 - Child crowned with tree in his hand

Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him

Key Moment #6 - Witches’ Apparitions

Apparition #3 - Child crowned with tree in his hand

• Macbeth’s response - doesn’t believe that is a threat and wants to know about Banquo

That will never be / Who can impress the forest, bid the tree / Unfix his earth-bound root?… Yet my heart throbs to know one thing:… shall Banquo’s issue ever reign in this kingdom?

Key Moment #6 - Witches’ Apparitions

Apparition #4 - Show of 8 kings, the last with a mirror in his hand, ghost of Banquo following

• Macbeth’s response - appalled at the long line

What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?

Key Moment #6 - Witches’ Apparitions

Apparition #4 - Show of 8 kings, the last with a mirror in his hand, ghost of Banquo following

• Macbeth’s response - Banquo smiles at Macbeth as he is finally the one that will win in life (with his royal lineage) contrasting Banquo shaking his head at Macbeth from the banquet scene

For the blood-bolter’d Banquo smiles upon me

Key Moment #7 - Macbeth’s downfall

• tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow soliloquy

• nihilism (life, truth, and morality lack any inherent meaning, purpose, or value)

• inevitability and repetition of history

• life is fragile and short-lived

• he is defeated and realises his efforts were for nothing

• his efforts felt so important in the moment but in the grand scheme of humanity, they meant nothing

• every life must end

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day… out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Key Moment #7 - Macbeth’s downfall

• Macbeth is guilty and wants to avoid Macduff

My soul is too much charged with blood of thine already

Key Moment #7 - Macbeth’s downfall

• Macbeth overconfident and reliant on apparitions’/fate’s assurances

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