English- Macbeth

Macbeth’s eagerness to learn more from the witches reveals his ambition and fatal flaw—his susceptibility to external influence and his desire for power.

Dialogue

Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.

Act 1 Scene 3

Macbeth acknowledges his dark ambitions and the need to conceal them, foreshadowing his moral descent into darkness and evil.

Personification, imagery, metaphor light/dark for good/evil, alliteration

Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires.

Act 1 Scene 4

Macbeth calls on darkness to hide his crimes. The imagery of blindness and destruction reflects his moral blindness and increasing detachment from humanity as his ambition grows.

Imagery, personification, symbolism light/dark for good/evil, metaphor- great bond for life/loyalty

Come, seeling night, / Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day / And with thy bloody and invisible hand / Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond / Which keeps me pale.

Act 3 Scene 2

 Macbeth realises that he has gone too far to back down and must continue his violent actions in order to maintain his hold on the throne, no matter how grim the consequences.

Metaphor, imagery, symbolism (blood), paradox (contradiction- trapped in choices)

I am in blood / Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o’er
Act 3 Scene 4

Shows Macbeth’s desperate determination to keep fighting no matter the cost—even if it means he is killed. This moment highlights Macbeth's tragic character arc—from a noble warrior to a man consumed by ambition and fear. It reflects the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition and the human struggle against inevitable downfall. Shakespeare explores how Macbeth clings to power and control, even as his world collapses around him.
Dialogue, symbolism (armour- protection), imagery

I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked. / Give me my armor

Act 5 Scene 3

Macbeth is reflecting on the meaningless and inevitability of life as his world crumbles. The imagery conveys the slow, monotonous passage of time leading everyone inexorably to death. The "brief candle" symbolizes life’s fragility and brevity, and "dusty death" reminds us of our mortality. This moment reveals Macbeth’s deep despair and nihilism as he confronts the futility of his ambition and existence.
This ties directly to Macbeth’s character development—he has moved from a once-hopeful and ambitious man to one overwhelmed by hopelessness and disillusionment. The soliloquy explores the theme of time, mortality, and the emptiness of ambition without meaning or connection.

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day / To the last syllable of recorded time, / And all our yesterdays have lighted fools / The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Act 5 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth is reading a letter from Macbeth about the witches' prophecies. Here, she expresses doubt about Macbeth’s ability to seize the throne. This metaphor compares Macbeth’s nature to being overly compassionate, gentle, or morally good—a softness that might prevent him from doing the ruthless deeds needed to fulfill the prophecy.

In terms of the plot, this moment is crucial because it shows Lady Macbeth’s ambition and determination to push Macbeth toward murder and power. It sets up the dynamic between the two characters, where Lady Macbeth becomes the driving force behind Macbeth’s actions early in the play.

Yet do I fear thy nature; / It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness

Act 1 Scene 5

Macbeth is hallucinating a dagger floating in front of him, which symbolizes his inner conflict and increasing paranoia. Yet, Macbeth acknowledges that the dagger is not physically there. His mind is consumed by ambition and guilt, showing how his thoughts are beginning to unravel as he contemplates regicide.

Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. / I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. / Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible / To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but / A dagger of the mind, a false creation, / Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?

Act 2 Scene 1

Macbeth has murdered King Duncan. These words are spoken by Macbeth himself, who is already tormented by guilt and fear. Symbolizes how Macbeth believes he has destroyed his own peace and innocence by committing the crime. Represents innocence, rest, and mental peace. Macbeth understands that his violent act will rob him of this natural, healing rest. It marks the beginning of his unraveling and descent into paranoia and madness, revealing his fragile character state after his violent act.

Sleep no more! / Macbeth does murder sleep—the innocent sleep, / Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, / The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, / Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, / Chief nourisher in life’s feast.

Act 2 Scene 2

Spoken by Macbeth shortly after he murders King Duncan. Macbeth here is reacting to the overwhelming guilt and horror he feels after the act. He is questioning whether any amount of water—even as vast as the ocean—can cleanse him of his guilt and the metaphorical bloodstains of his crime. This hyperbolic image expresses the magnitude of his remorse and the sense that his crime has contaminated him beyond repair.

Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather / The multitudinous seas incarnadine, / Making the green one red.

Act 2 Scene 2

Famous sleepwalking scene. Lady Macbeth is overwhelmed by guilt and is imagining that her hands still smell of Duncan's blood—the blood of the murder she helped plan and instigated. She means that no perfume or external effort can remove the stain of guilt from her conscience. Her repeated cries highlight her deep anguish and mental breakdown. Throughout the play, Lady Macbeth had been the strong, ruthless force pushing Macbeth, but here her guilt has completely overcome her. This key character moment contrasts with her earlier composure, showing how deeply human and vulnerable she has become.

Imagery, hyperbole, symbolism

Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the / perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten / this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh!

Act 5 Scene 1

Lady Macbeth prepares to persuade Macbeth to pursue the throne. Reveals her intention to use strong, persuasive language to challenge any doubts or hesitations he has that might stop him from seizing the crown. In the plot, this moment is important because it marks Lady Macbeth’s active role in encouraging Macbeth’s darker ambitions, setting in motion the murderous plan s that follow. It gives us insight into her manipulative and determined character.

Metaphor, symbolism

I may pour my spirits in thine ear / And chastise with the valor of my tongue/ All that impedes thee from the golden round,”

Lady Macbeth calls on dark spirits to help her shed her feminine qualities and fill her with ruthless cruelty. She is asking to be stripped of traits like compassion and weakness, which she associates with her gender, so she can pursue her ambitious plans without remorse. It highlights her complex character—strong and determined, but also willing to engage with dark forces.

Metaphor, hyperbole, symbolism, tone

Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood. / Stop up the access and passage to remorse

Act 1 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth is asking the dark spirits to replace her nurturing milk—the symbol of motherhood, kindness, and life-giving—with “gall,” which is bitter poison. This powerful metaphor shows her desire to reject the traditional softness and femininity associated with women and instead embrace cruelty and bitterness necessary to carry out her ruthless plans. The phrase “you murd’ring ministers” refers to these spirits, whom she calls upon to aid her in her dark ambitions. It reveals her complex and intense character and anticipates the moral decay that follows.

Juxtaposition, metaphor

Come to my woman’s breasts, / And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers

Act 1 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth is preparing Macbeth to deceive King Duncan when he visits their castle. She urges Macbeth to appear innocent and welcoming on the outside, while hiding his deadly intentions underneath. This shows Lady Macbeth’s manipulative nature as a character and foreshadows the dark deeds that will unfold. Similie/metaphor

Look like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under ’t. 

Act 1 Scene 5

Spoken by Donalbain shortly after King Duncan’s murder has been discovered. Donalbain expresses his fear and distrust, saying that even those close to you can be the most dangerous, hiding harmful intentions behind friendly smiles. This reflects the violence and betrayal shaking the Scottish court.

Metaphor, paradox, foreshadowing

Where we are, / There’s daggers in men’s smiles. The near in blood, / The nearer bloody.

Act 2 Scene 3

Malcolm is testing Macduff’s loyalty because after Macbeth’s tyranny, trust is fragile. Malcolm acknowledges that even a good person might hesitate or falter when forced into a heavy responsibility, like being king. It shows the suspicion caused by Macbeth’s betrayal and the way goodness can be tested by power.

Dialogue, juxtaposition

Macduff: I am not treacherous. / Malcolm: But Macbeth is. / A good and virtuous nature may recoil / In an imperial charge.

Act 4 Scene 3

This iconic line, spoken by Lady Macbeth, reinforces the concept that violence and reckless ambition, once acted upon, cannot be reversed.

Sentence type, repeatition

What’s done cannot be undone

Act 5 Scene 1

The Captain praises Macbeth’s bravery and valor in battle, highlighting Macbeth’s winning reputation as a courageous and loyal warrior. This commendation establishes Macbeth as a heroic character initially and sets up a contrast to his later moral decline.

For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name

Act 1 Scene 2

Foreshadows Macbeth’s rise to power. Plants the seed of ambition and sets the tragic chain of events in motion, as Macbeth starts to consider the possibility of seizing the throne. It reveals Macbeth as a character susceptible to influence and temptation, highlighting his latent ambition.

All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!

Act 1 Scene 3

This prophecy boosts Macbeth’s confidence, leading him to commit more brutal actions as he believes he cannot be defeated. It reflects the tragic irony because, although Macbeth feels unstoppable, this cryptic message contributes to his eventual downfall. The prophecy develops the theme of fate versus free will, as well as illusion versus reality.

Foreshadowing, irony, alliteration

Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn / The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth.

Act 3 Scene 1

Malcolm is referencing the idea that even the purest and most virtuous beings (angels) can fall from grace—specifically alluding to Lucifer, the "brightest" angel who became the devil. In the plot, Malcolm uses this line to explain that appearances can be deceiving—just because someone seems good doesn’t mean they are. This fits with his cautious and wary character as he tests Macduff’s loyalty amidst the chaos caused by Macbeth’s tyranny.

Metaphor/biblical illusion

Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.

Act 4 Scene 3

Macbeth has just received news about the advancing English army and the movement of Birnam Wood, which, according to a prophecy, signals his downfall. His character is now consumed by a mix of overconfidence and denial; he clings to the witches’ prophecy that no man "born of woman" can harm him. This defiance pushes the plot forward toward his inevitable tragic end.

Dialogue, fatal flaw, characterisation

I cannot taint with fear.

Act 5 Scene 3

This chant sets a mysterious and eerie tone and introduces the audience to the theme of ambiguity and moral confusion that runs throughout the entire play. The phrase means that what seems good ("fair") is actually bad ("foul") and what appears bad is actually good. It hints at the confusing and deceptive world Macbeth is about to enter — where trust becomes difficult and nothing is quite what it seems.

Rhyming couplet

Fair is foul, and foul is fair

Act 1 Scene 1

It’s a rhythmic and chilling chant that conjures an atmosphere of dark magic and foreboding. This scene marks a turning point in the plot, as the witches prepare to deliver more cryptic prophecies to Macbeth, which further manipulate him into a dangerous overconfidence. It symbolizes the brewing storm of chaos and the destructive consequences of Macbeth’s ambition once it becomes entangled with these dark prophecies.

Rhyme, symbolism, imagery

Double, double toil and trouble, / Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Act 4 Scene 1

This quote is spoken by one of Macbeth’s soldiers. The soldier is describing how he saw Birnam Wood seemingly moving toward Dunsinane Hill, which at first sounds impossible since trees don’t move. This moment reveals that the witches’ prophecy is coming true in a surprising way—it means the enemy is using branches from Birnam Wood as camouflage, making the wood “move” toward Macbeth’s castle. This signals that Macbeth’s downfall is imminent and sets the stage for the final confrontation.

Foreshadowing, personification, imagery

As I did stand my watch upon the hill, / I looked toward Birnam, and anon methought / The wood began to move.

Act 5 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth is challenging his courage and masculinity, essentially saying: "You were a real man when you were brave enough to go through with our plan to kill King Duncan." This reflects Lady Macbeth's manipulation and control over Macbeth’s sense of character, pushing him to act on his ambition and seize power.

Motif, ellipsis (do it- audience can guess what happens)

When you durst do it, then you were a man.

Act 1 Scene 7

Lady Macbeth is encouraging Macbeth to pretend to be loyal and friendly while secretly plotting to murder King Duncan. This moment is pivotal because it marks the beginning of Macbeth's transformation from a loyal subject to a ruthless would-be king. It also reveals Lady Macbeth's manipulative and ambitious character traits.

Metaphor, symbolism, juxtaposition (contrast)

Look like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t

Act 1 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth has just read a letter from her husband, Macbeth, telling her about the witches' prophecy that he will become king. Lady Macbeth is preparing to manipulate and encourage Macbeth into pursuing the throne, prompting the tragic action that follows.

Metaphor, personification, alliteration

Hie thee hither, / That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, / And chastise with the valour of my tongue

Act 1 Scene 5

Macbeth is talking about the need to put on a deceptive appearance to cover up his true intentions and feelings, which are filled with treachery and ambition. This highlights his internal conflict—he knows the murder is wrong, but his ambition pushes him forward.

Oxymoron, metaphor, parallelism, alliteration

False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

Act 1 Scene 7

Macbeth is deeply disturbed because Banquo's spirit — and the vision of his crowned descendants — represents a threat to Macbeth's own power. The plot point is crucial: Macbeth is consumed by fear that Banquo’s heirs will take the throne, which leads him to further violence and paranoia.
Metaphor, symbolism

Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down! / Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs

Act 4 Scene 1

This moment introduces a central tension: the witches’ prophecies spark Macbeth’s ambitious desires, setting him on a path to betrayal and tragedy. It also reveals Banquo’s more cautious and moral character, as he senses danger beneath the witches’ enticing words.

Foreshadowing, metaphor, juxtaposition (contrast small truths=big harm)

The instruments of darkness tell us truths, / Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s / In deepest consequence

Act 1 Scene 3

Lady Macbeth is expressing how they will be tormented by guilt and anxiety after committing the murder of King Duncan. The phrase suggests that even everyday actions like eating and sleeping will be overshadowed by fear and horrifying dreams, highlighting the psychological consequences of their dark actions. It foreshadows the guilt and madness that will haunt both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth later in the play.

Metaphor, imagery

Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep / In the affliction of these terrible dreams

Act 3 Scene 2

Lady Macbeth says this in a letter to Macbeth after hearing about the witches' prophecy that he will become king. Lady Macbeth is expressing her deep affection and also her view of Macbeth as her equal — a partner in ambition and future greatness. This phrase reveals her strong influence and involvement in Macbeth's character arc, showing her as a driving force behind his quest for power.

Metaphor

my dearest partner of greatness

Act 1 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth is trying to calm Macbeth, who is visibly shaken and overwhelmed with guilt. She urges him to compose himself—literally to wash away the blood (symbolizing guilt) and to get dressed for bed as if nothing has happened. This moment is crucial in the plot because it highlights the darker side of ambition leading to moral collapse and the beginning of Macbeth's psychological torment.

Motif

Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so pale

Act 5 Scene 1

Macbeth is wrestling with his conscience about murdering King Duncan. Macbeth admits that he lacks a good reason or motivation to commit the deed, except for his overwhelming ambition — which he compares to a horse that jumps too high and then crashes.
Personification, metaphor

I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’ other.

Act 1 Scene 7