macbeth quotes - act 4

‘Call ‘em, let me see um’ ‘tell me’ Macbeth scene 1

• use of imperatives

• Macbeth still believes he holds power over the witches though he has been fooled by them

‘Even Till destruction sicken ‘ ‘ let them fight against the church’ Macbeth scene 1

• highlights Macbeth recognises that the witches are evil beings

• Still chooses to align himself with them

• emphasises Macbeth ambition - he is willing to destroy Scotland to help him

• Proves the witches malevolent

‘An armed head’ stage directions scene 1

• dramatic irony

• Audience know Macduff has got army in England Macbeth does not

‘And an eternal curse fall on you ‘ Macbeth scene 1

• Macbeth misjudges his own power

‘For the blood-bolstered Banquo smiles upon me’ Macbeth scene 1

• blood = guilt

• Laughed at by Banquo

• King James is descendant of Banquo

‘Infected by the air wherein they ride’ Macbeth scene 1

• Macbeth is ‘in double trust’

• He implies to Lennox that they are evil beings yet still aligns himself with them

‘ from this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand’ Macbeth scene 1

• Macbeth will not hold back anymore

• He won’t feel guilt and he will do whatever he needs to

• Contrasts to his previous guilt / uncertainty about actions

But float upon a wild and violent sea ‘ rosse scene 2

• instability of Scotland

• Metaphor (violence )

‘To do harm is often laudable, to do good sometime accounted dangerous folly’ Lady Macduff scene 2

• things not as they should be

• To do here is praised and good is not

• Macbeth is extremely violent causing this change in Scotland

‘Bleed bleed poor country’ Macduff scene 3

• cares more about Scotland than his family

• Blood as metaphor for guilt

• Shows loyalty

‘O Scotland Scotland ‘ Macduff scene 3

• shows his loyalty to Scotland

‘Bloody sceptered ‘ Macduff scene 3

• links back to Macbeth barren sceptre

• His reign is littered with guilt (boood = guilt)

• Reign is guilty in itself as he is a tyrant and has gone against natural order

‘To the succeeding royalty he leaves the healing benediction ‘ Malcom scene 3

• links to idea that kind can heal people as they have power of god

• Shakespeare is flattering king James as he is a descendant of king Edward of England and so also has this power

‘Alas, poor country ‘ rosse scene 3

• continued theme of damege to Scotland

‘Be called our mother ‘ Rosse scene 3

• female personification of portrayal of Scotland

• Female = weaker sex so something to be taken care of

• Mother = primary care giver so a mutual relationship where Scotland protects her inhabitants and they do the same for her

‘ be this the whetstone of your sword’ Malcolm scene 3

• Metaphor

• Referencing a sword sharpener

• Telling Macduff to sue his anger and pain for motivation

• Motif of daggers and swords = betrayal and Malcom is convincing him to use his betrayal to get revenge

‘Macbeth is ripe for shaking ‘ Malcom scene 3

• Macbeth is ready to be removed from the throne

• highlighting the instability of Scotland under Macbeth

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