Macbeth cuecards - ambition/fate

“We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking place and we’ll fail.” - LM Act 1 scene 7

Ambition, LM dismisses the idea of failure and urges Macbeth to be courageous. By saying “sticking place” she means he must hold his bravely, firmly, and not back down

“Fair is foul and foul is fair” - Witches Act 1 scene 1

Fate, this quote means that what seems good is actually bad and what seems bad is actually good. It reflects the theme of moral confusion, deception, and the blurring of right and wrong.

“Come, you spirits.. unsex me here.. make thick my blood.” - LM act 1 scene 5

Ambition, LMcalls upon evil spirits to remove her of all her femininity which she equates with nurturing and remorse, and to fill her with cruelty and ruthlessness so she can help her husband commit regicide.

“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself ans falls on th’other” - M act 1 scene 7

Macbeth is expressing that he has no other reason to kill Duncan except for his overwhelming ambition.

“I have given suck.. I would’ve plucked my nipple from his gums and dashed the brains out.” - LM act 1 scene 7

LM disrupts the typical idea of what women and mothers are like.

She uses this idea to make her husband feel guilty and unmanly by doubting their murderous plan.

She describes herself as a tender and loving mother who would kill her own child to seize power.

“Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires - M act 1 scene 4

Macbeth speaks these lines in an aside because he wishes to conceal his ambitious intentions from other people.

Macbeth wants to kill king Duncan to achieve his goals, that is his deepest desire.

“I have almost forgot the taste of fears.” - M act 5 scene 5

Macbeth has invoked so much violence upon others, his ambition has completely distorted his vision, so much so that he has forgotten the experience of being upset over death.

“Though woulds’t be great art not without ambition, but without the ilness should attend it.” -LM act 1 scene 5

LM doesn’t think M is able to display the ruthless actions to achieve his goal.

Two truths are told as happy prologues to the swelling act of th’imperial theme.” - M act 1 scene 3

Macbeth immediately starts to wonder whether him becoming Thane of Cawdor means the third prophecy will come true.

The eagerness he presents to this idea suggests he finds the possibility appealing even thought he knows what he’ll have to do to achieve it.

“All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.” - Witches act 1 scene 3

The witches predict macbeth will be king. This is foreshadowing of Macbeth’s authority and power in the future.

“Is this a dagger which I see before me” - M act 2 scene 1

Signifies his internal conflict before he murders Duncan.

The dagger represents the violent act he is about to commit, as well as his ambition. The dagger represents his overwhelming need for power.

“When you durst do it then you were a man.” - LM act 1 scene 7

LM is telling M that his willingness to agree to commit the murder of Duncan is a demonstration of his masculinity. She implies that if he backs out then he is not a man.”