Ambition Quotes Macbeth

I h n s b t p t s o m i 

‘I have no spur but to prick the sides of my intent’- Act 1 Scene 7

Macbeth is saying that it is his own ambition that makes him want to kill the king. In the soliloquy, Macbeth is deciding whether to kill the king or not 

• This quote highlights how his hamartia (ambition) overcomes all of his other positive traits 

• Macbeth later says that he overleaps himself which shows his awareness that he is committing regicide 

L… i a t t b a i f o s a f, s n

‘Life … is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’ - Act 5 Scene 5 

This soliloquy after Lady Macbeth’s death is Macbeth suggesting that life is meaningless and without purpose 

• An example of nihilism 

• Rejection of God’s plan would’ve been shocking to a Jacobean audience 

• However, the audience experiences catharsis as they feel sorry for Macbeth despite his blasphemy

• Represents moment of anagnorisis

W y d d i, t y w a m

‘When you durst do it, then you were a man’ - Act 1 Scene 7

Lady Macbeth is suggesting that Macbeth is only a man if he kills Duncan 

• She is attacking his masculinity 

• This would hurt Macbeth’s pride as he is being called weak, during the Jacobean period men are meant to be equated with strength 

• This is an example of role reversal, as Lady Macbeth is the one criticising Macbeth 

O f i b s d 

‘Our fears in Banquo stick deep and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared ’ - Act 3 Scene 1 

Macbeth still fears Banquo as he is aware of the witches prophecy that Banquo ‘shalt get kings’ 

• The repetition of fears highlights how Macbeth is plagued by this eventuality 

• ‘Royalty of nature also suggests that Macbeth sees Banquo as a superior human

• Banquo is seen as more deserving, thus knocking Macbeth’s confidence 

S h y f; l n l s m b a d d

C, t n a p t i t d s o h

'Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires’ - Act 1 Scene 4 (Macbeth)

‘Come, thick night and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of Hell [...] nor Heaven peep through’ 1.5 (Lady Macbeth) 

Both characters are asking for their evil intentions to be hidden from God

• These soliloquys reveal the characters true intentions

• Religious symbolism (heaven, stars, hell) suggests their awareness of the consequences of committing regicide 

• Imperative verbs (come, hide) may be an attempt to disrupt the Great Chain of Being 

T d b a h f l Q

‘The dead butcher and his fiend-like Queen’ 5.9

This comes during the final soliloquy of the play after Macbeth has been killed 

• ‘Butcher’ perfectly describes Macbeth’s transition from noble general to ruthless murderer as a butcher symbolises someone who kills without remorse 

• ‘Fiend’ describes Lady Macbeth as a fiend; a demon - relating her to the witches who aim to bring chaos to Scotland

F i f, a f i f

‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair’

The witches are warning the audience that what may be seen as good might well be bad, and vice versa

• The witches are presenting the audience with a paradox that suggests that the play will involve the themes of deception and appearance versus reality

• The words of the witches might be in the form of riddles: confusing, or misleading, just as their prophecies are to Macbeth

M d m s

‘Macbeth does murder sleep!’

Macbeth is quoting a voice he can hear that tells him that he has murdered sleep

• Sleep symbolises peace or calm, so this is a suggestion that Macbeth will no longer be at peace because he committed regicide

• Sleep was also used as a form of torture during the Jacobean period so Macbeth could be seen as being punished

• Macbeth has murdered his own chance at peace, perhaps eternally

C, y s … U m h

‘Come, you spirits [...] Unsex me here’ 1.5

Lady Macbeth is calling on evil spirits to take away her feminine traits

• She uses imperative verbs to show she is commanding evil spirits showing her hubris: it is arrogant for humans to believe they can control evil forces

• She wants to subvert the characteristics of a typical woman

• Shakespeare could be suggesting that only by adopting male characteristics can women gain power

• This would make her seem like a witch to a Jacobean audience 

W h a h? H, t p o m e, w a g N o w t b, c f m h 

‘What hands are here? Ha, they pluck out mine eyes, will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood, clean from my hand’ 2.2

Macbeth has just killed Duncan and is questioning what he has done through the rhetorical question

• ‘Pluck’ is a violent verb which echoes his violent actions

• ‘Neptune’ is a hyperbole used to emphasise the severity of the deed, it would take all the water in the world to wash his hands clean 

• Mythological allusion suggests Macbeth must turn to ancient Gods to be absolved