maceth quotes

"So foul and fair a day I have not seen."

Macbeth’s first line. Mirrors the witches ("fair is foul") — links him to the supernatural. Highlights disorder and foreshadows his moral confusion.

"Let not light see my black and deep desires."

Macbeth wants to hide his ambition to kill Duncan. Light = truth, dark = evil. He is aware of his own moral corruption.

"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition."

Macbeth admits he has no reason to kill Duncan except unchecked ambition. The metaphor shows ambition can overreach and lead to downfall.

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

Macbeth hallucinates a dagger. Symbolizes temptation, foreshadows murder. Blurs reality and madness.

"Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep."

Said after killing Duncan. Sleep = innocence and peace. He’s killed his own ability to rest. Symbol of guilt and mental torment.

"O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife."

Macbeth is plagued by anxiety over Banquo. "Scorpions" = dangerous thoughts. Shows paranoia and his descent into further violence.

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

Macbeth feels his guilt is so great, not even the ocean can cleanse him. Hyperbole shows deep remorse.

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

Macbeth reflects he’s gone too far in bloodshed to stop now. He chooses to continue on a path of evil.

"Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow…"

Macbeth reflects on life after Lady Macbeth’s death. Candle = short life. Life is meaningless, full of noise, but ultimately empty.

"I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked."

Macbeth shows defiance in the face of death. Violent, determined, refusing to surrender. Highlights tragic pride and stubbornness.