'Macbeth' Quote Drill.

“Fair is foul and foul is fair.”

This quote, spoken by the three witches, suggests the theme of appearances versus reality in the play, conveying that what seems good may actually be bad and vice versa.

“Brave Macbeth— well he deserves that name.”

This quote, spoken by Duncan, reflects his admiration for Macbeth's bravery in battle, highlighting Macbeth's noble qualities before his eventual downfall.

“Instruments of darkness.”

This phrase, referring to the witches, implies that they are deceptive forces that lead individuals to evil and ruin, emphasizing the manipulative nature of their prophecies.

“Let not light see my black and deep desires.”

Macbeth admits he has dangerous desires to become king. This is the beginning of his hubris and excessive pride.

“Too full o’ the milk of human kindness.”

Lady Macbeth believes that Macbeth is too good to murder Duncan. She uses emasculation to try manipulate Macbeth into killing Duncan.

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

Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth he must act innocent however, he should be evil enough inside to kill Duncan.

“false face must hide what the heart doth know.”

Macbeth plans to hide his evil intent with a friendly face to avoid being suspected.

“Is this a dagger I see before me?”

Macbeth hallucinates a dagger leading him to murder Macbeth. This is personification of his guilt, fear and his deteriorating mental state.

“These hangman’s hands.”

Macbeth compares his hands to one of an executioners. Blood → guilt.

“Macbeth shall sleep no more.”

Sleep→ peace. He has murdered his peace and he won’t be able to get his peace back.

“My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white.” 

Lady Macbeth says that she is just as guilty as Macbeth but she doesn’t act like she’s noble for it. She’s calling him a coward.

“A little water clears us of this deed.”

Dramatic irony as her guilt will never be washed away and later she will be frantically trying to clean her guilt.

“Most sacrilegious murder.”

Because killing a king was seen as against God, Macbeth murdering Duncan is seen as killing a representative of God.

“There’s daggers in men’s smiles.”

That those who seem good want to cause harm such as Macbeth. Recognise the theme of appearance vs reality and foul being fair and vice versa.

“I fear thou play’d most foully for’t.”

“Our fears in Banquo stick deep.”

“Full of Scorpions is my mind.”

“Never shake thy gory locks at me!”

“Blood will have blood.”

“something evil this way comes.”

Macbeth is recognised as evil by the witches, no longer is he the “Noble Macbeth” but he is seen as evil.

“Beware Macduff.”

A supernatural warning to fear Macduff. This paranoia leads to Macbeth massacring Macduff’s family.

“None of woman born shall harm Macbeth.”

This is the second apparition which makes Macbeth believe that he can’t be killed. He doesn’t take in consideration Macduff was born via c-section. 

“It weeps, it bleeds.”

Malcom personifies Scotland as being hurt by Macbeth’s reign and tyranny.

“Let grief convert to anger.”

Malcom convinces Macduff to get vengeance on Macbeth and this makes Macduff become the driving force against Macbeth.

“Out damned spot, out I say!”

Lady Macbeth hallucinates blood on her hand that won’t wash away → symbolises he guilt.

“Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane.”

This prophecy tells Macbeth that he cannot be defeated until the forest moves to his castle, this makes him feel safe but the army cut the trees to use as camouflage.

“Life’s but a walking shadow… signifying nothing.”

Once Lady Macbeth died, he has a nihilistic view believing that life is meaningless.

“This dead butcher and his fiend-lie queen.”

Macbeth is called a butcher representing his murderous sprees and fiend-lie queen to be Lady Macbeth, a devilish evil force.

“Th’ usurper’s cursed head. The time is free.”

Justice is restored and the country is liberated, Scotland free from tyranny.