Untitled Flashcards Set

“Doubtful it stood; as two spent swimmers that do cling together and choke their art.”

• Speaker: The Captain

• Audience: King Duncan

• Context: The Captain describes the intense battle between Macbeth and Macdonwald’s forces, comparing them to exhausted swimmers struggling to stay afloat.

2.

“No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present death, and with his former title greet Macbeth.”

• Speaker: King Duncan

• Audience: Ross

• Context: Duncan orders the execution of the Thane of Cawdor for treason and rewards Macbeth with his title.

3.

“Sleep shall neither night nor day hang upon his penthouse lid. He shall live a man forbid. Weary sev’n nights, nine times nine, shall he dwindle peak and pine.”

• Speaker: First Witch

• Audience: The other witches

• Context: The First Witch describes her plan to torment a sailor because his wife refused to share chestnuts with her.

4.

“But ‘tis strange. 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.”

• Speaker: Banquo

• Audience: Macbeth

• Context: Banquo warns Macbeth that evil forces often tell small truths to lure people into greater harm, in response to the witches’ prophecies.

5.

“There is no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.”

• Speaker: King Duncan

• Audience: Malcolm

• Context: Duncan laments how he misjudged the former Thane of Cawdor, who betrayed him.

6.

“We will establish our estate upon our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland.”

• Speaker: King Duncan

• Audience: The court

• Context: Duncan announces that his son Malcolm will be his heir, which makes Macbeth realize he has another obstacle to becoming king.

7.

“Bring forth men-children only. For thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males.”

• Speaker: Macbeth

• Audience: Lady Macbeth

• Context: Macbeth praises Lady Macbeth’s ruthless nature, saying she is so bold she should only give birth to sons.

8.

“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.”

• Speaker: Lady Macbeth

• Audience: Spirits (soliloquy)

• Context: Lady Macbeth calls on supernatural forces to remove her femininity and make her ruthless enough to help Macbeth kill Duncan.

9.

“We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honored me of late, and I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people, which should be worn now in their newest gloss, not cast aside so soon.”

• Speaker: Macbeth

• Audience: Lady Macbeth

• Context: Macbeth expresses doubts about killing Duncan, arguing that he has recently earned respect and does not want to risk it.

10.

“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 not light see my black and deep desires.”

• Speaker: Macbeth

• Audience: Himself (soliloquy)

• Context: Macbeth reacts to Duncan naming Malcolm as heir, realizing he must take drastic action to achieve his ambitions.

11.

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

• Speaker: Macbeth

• Audience: Banquo

• Context: Macbeth comments on the strange weather, unknowingly echoing the witches’ words, foreshadowing his entanglement with their prophecy.

12.

“The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?”

• Speaker: Macbeth

• Audience: Ross and Angus

• Context: Macbeth questions why he is being called Thane of Cawdor, as he does not yet know the title has been stripped from the previous thane.