Act 1 quotes (STOPPED AT ACT 1 SCENE 5)

Act 1 Scene 1 quotes:

“when the battle’s lost an won” - witches

“fair is foul, and foul is fair" - witches

Act 1 scene 2 quotes:

“brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name” - Captain

“O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman” - Duncan

Act 1 Scene 3 quotes:

“So foul and fair a day I have not seen” - Macbeth

“Thane of Glamis!” , “Thane of Cawdor!” , “king hereafter!” - Witches

“And often sometimes to win us to our harm , /The instruments of darkness tell us truths” - Banquo

“Why do i yield to that suggestion, /whose horrid image doth unfix my hair” - Macbeth

Act 1 Scene 4 quotes:

“there’s no art/To find the mind’s construction in the face” - King Duncan

“He was a gentleman on whom i built/An absolute trust” - King Duncan

“Stars hide your fires./Let not light see my black and deep desires” - Macbeth

Act 1 Scene 5 Quotes:

“Too full o’t'h’milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way” - L. Macbeth

“unsex me here” - L. Macbeth

“come thick night. And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell” - L. Macbeth

“Look like th’innocent flower,/But be the serpent under’t” - L. Macbeth

Act 1 Scene 6 Quotes:

“Fair and noble hostess,/ We are your guest tonight” - King Duncan

Act 1 Scene 7 quotes:

“bloody, instructions, which, being, taught, return” - Macbeth

“when you durst do it, then you were a man” - L.Macbeth

“False face must hide what the false heart doth know” - Macbeth

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “when the battle’s lost and won”

suggests that with each victory there is also a failure. This is true for Macbeth as with each win he secures he also suffers loss. The witches statement might seem paradoxical but they are true.

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “fair is foul, and foul is fair”

it is a matter of perception. What is fair to man is seen as foul to the witches and Vice versa. The witches do not see them as “bad”

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name”

first time the audience hears about Macbeth he is courageous and an impressive soldiersuggest why Shakespeare wrote. Shakespeare introduces him that way to create a positive picture. He is praised for being violent and ruthless

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!”

shows King Duncan absolute trust in Macbeth. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony here

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “ so foul and fair a day I have not seen”

Macbeth line ironically references the witches in Act 1 Scene 1. This aligns him to the supernatural way. Shakespeare hints that Macbeth’s mindset is already open to corruption

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “Thane of Glamis!” , Thane of Cawdor!”, “King hereafter!”

The witches build their predictions to a climax. The ultimate ambition of Macbeth is to be crowned king

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “and oftentimes, to win us to our harm,/The instruments of darkness tell us truths “

Banquo questions the motives and intentions of the witches. He is already aware of the potential consequences of such information

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “Why do i yield to that suggestion,/Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair”

Macbeth cannot speak of the thought of killing King Duncan for the crown as yet, let alone say it aloud, but the idea is there

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “There’s no art/To find the mind’s construction in the face”

King Duncan observation here shows how he cannot see the traitors in his own kingdom

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “He was a gentleman on whom i built/ An absolute trust!”

King Duncan words are ironic. He feels betrayed by the Thane of Cawdor he has just had executed but the audience know his new Thane of Cawdor has murderous intent. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony here.

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “stars hide your fires,/Let not light see my black and deep desires

Macbeth associates himself with the supernatural again. The stars represent heaven and all that is godly is therefore good. Macbeth still avoids the word “murder” even to himself at this stage. This shows how powerful his ambition and desires are; they override his good sense

suggest why Shakespeare wrote “Too full o’t'h’milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way”

Lady Macbeth think Macbeth is too emotional to kill Duncan.