Macbeth Quotes Act 1

Act 1, Scene 1 - The Witches

(paradoxical language)

“Fair is foul and foul is fair, / Hover through the fog and filthy air.”

Act 1, Scene 1 - The Witches

They appear to be able to control the weather.

“When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning or in rain?”

Act 1, Scene 1 - The Witches

They can tell the future.

“When the battle’s lost and won”

Act 1, Scene 1 - The Witches

They have plans for Macbeth.

“There to meet with Macbeth”

Act 1, Scene 2 - Wounded Soldier

Description of Macbeth’s violence as he killed the treacherous Macdonwald.

“Till he unseam’d him from the nave to th’ chops / And fixed his head upon our battlements.”

Act 1, Scene 2 - Wounded Soldier

A description of Macbeth as brave.

“For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name - disdaining Fortune with his brandished steel.”

Act 1, Scene 2 - King Duncan

A description of Macbeth as loyal.

“O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!”

Act 1, Scene 2 - King Duncan

A description of Macbeth as honourable.

“Noble Macbeth”

Act 1, Scene 2 - Wounded Soldier

Macbeth’s disturbing capacity for violence.

“They meant to bathe in reeking wounds or memorise another Golgotha”

Act 1, Scene 2 - King Duncan

Macbeth is given the title of Thane of Cawdor.

“With his former title, greet Macbeth.”

Act 1, Scene 3 - Macbeth

Mirrors the witches.

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

Act 1, Scene 3 - The Witches

They greet Macbeth, giving him the prophecy.

“Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!” “Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!” “Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”

Act 1, Scene 3 - The Witches

They greet Banquo, giving him the prophecy.

“Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.”

Act 1, Scene 3 - Banquo

Banquo warns Macbeth not to trust the witches.

“And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, / The instruments of darkness tell us truths, / Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s / In deepest consequence.”

Act 1, Scene 3 - Macbeth (aside)

Macbeth acknowledging the temptation to murder in his thoughts.

“My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical.”

Act 1, Scene 3 - Macbeth (aside)

Macbeth considering leaving events to chance.

“If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir.”

Act 1, Scene 3 - Macbeth

Clothing imagery - Macbeth is confused about the first part of the prophecy coming true.

“Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?”

Act 1, Scene 3 - Banquo

Clothing imagery.

“New honours come upon him Like our strange garments cleave not to their mould But with the aid of use.”

Act 1, Scene 4 - Macbeth (aside)

Macbeth knows that he will not be King by chance.

“The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step / On which I must fall down or else o’erleap / For in my way it lies. / Stars, hide your fires; / Let no light see my black and deep desires.”

Act 1, Scene 4 - King Duncan

King Duncan discussing the Thane of Cawdor’s betrayal. This highlights King Duncan’s overly trusting nature and shows us that he is a bad judge of character. He also names his son Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland, rather than giving Macbeth his time to shine.

“There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face: / He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.” “Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we make hereafter The Prince of Cumberland.”

Act 1, Scene 4 - King Duncan

Plant imagery. He aims to help Macbeth grow.

“I have begun to plant thee, and will labor To make thee full of growing.”

Act 1, Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth

She reads out Macbeth’s letter.

“These weird sisters saluted me and referred to me the coming on of time, with ‘Hail, king that shalt be!’” “This I have thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness.”

Act 1, Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth doubts her husband’s ability to murder Duncan. She also wants to manipulate him.

“Too full of the milk of human kindness” “Hie thee hither That I may pour my spirits in thine ear.”

Act 1, Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth wants to be stripped of her femininity so she can go through with the murder of Duncan.

“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…”

Act 1, Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth tells her husband to act normal and not to show that he is planning anything against the King.

“Look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under it.”

Act 1, Scene 6 - King Duncan

Dramatic irony.

“This castle hath a pleasant seat.”

Act 1, Scene 7 - Macbeth (Soliloquy)

Macbeth’s reasons against killing the king.

“As I am his kinsman and his subject” “As his host”

Act 1, Scene 7 - Macbeth (Soliloquy)

Duncan is a virtuous king.

“Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued at The deep damnation of his taking off.”

Act 1, Scene 7 - Macbeth (Soliloquy)

Macbeth acknowledges his ambition. Imagery - vaulting and leaping. Imagery - his “intent” a horse, look at the spur pricking the side of the animal to o’erleap a major hurdle.

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

Act 1, Scene 7 - Macbeth to Lady Macbeth

Macbeth seems to have second thoughts.

“We will proceed no further in this business: / He hath honoured me of late, and I have bought / Golden opinions from all sorts of people.”

Act 1, Scene 7 - Lady Macbeth to Macbeth

Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth to go through with the murder.

“Art thou afeared / To be the same in thine own act and valour / As thou art in desire?”

Act 1, Scene 7 - Macbeth

Decides to go through with it.

“I am settled, and bend up Each corporeal agent to this terrible feat.”