Macbeth Quotes

Macbeth character

·      “So fair and foul a day I have not seen” – Macbeth mirroring witches' words

·      “Here to meet Macbeth” – witches wish to see him above anyone

·      “Brave Macbeth” – he is a paradox

·      “Borrowed robes”

·      “Thane of Cawdor” – Duncan trusting Macbeth and rewarding savage behaviour

·      “Rapt” – beguiled and mesmerised

·      “Vaulting ambition”

·      “Heart knocks at his ribs” – mistakes guilt for excitement to witches' prophecy

·      “Dearest partner of greatness” – sees her as an equal

·      “O full of scorpions” – imagery of poison and decay

·      “Thy glory locks” – he hallucinates and reveals his collapse to Scotland

·      “Star hide your fires” – chooses darkness, country goes into darkness

·      “Died hereafter” – he no longer cares for his wife

Kingship; focus on Duncan, Macbeth, Malcolm

·      “Thane of Cawdor” - Duncan trusting Macbeth and rewarding savage behaviour

·      “Great office”/ “virtues” – Macbeth describing Duncan as uncorrupted and virtuous

·      “In double trust” – sacred obligations Macbeth breaks by murdering Duncan

·      “Is this a dagger” – murderous path, moment where Macbeth shifts from thought to action.

·      “O full of scorpions” – paranoia and guilt after taking crown

·      “Fruitless crown” – Realising his kingship is hollow, temporary, and devoid of legacy

·      “Thy glory locks” – Violent, guilt-ridden, his paranoia makes him unfit to rule

Appearance vs. Reality

·      “Heart knocks at his ribs” – first prophecy, Macbeth changes his perception

·      “Borrowed robes” – Banquo is voice of logic, Macbeth agrees and doubts witches

·      “Is this a dagger” – key soliloquy, rejects gut instinct and kills Duncan, his reality collapses

·      “Stars hide your fires” – after Duncan’s murder, Macbeth cannot sleep anymore

·      “O full of scorpions” – After killing Banquo, Macbeth falls apart

·      “Thy glory locks” – Macbeth sees Banquos ghost

·      “Beware Macduff” – MacDuff will kill him, but he disregards this prophecy

·      “No man of a woman born” – Macbeth takes this for granted

·      “Innocent flower/serpent” – Lady Macbeth chooses a different persona to protect Macbeth

·      “Leave all the rest to me” – Lady Macbeth chooses to take control

·      “Out you damn’d spot” – Lady Macbeth is engulfed in guilt

·      “Signifying nothing” – Macbeth talking about Lady Macbeths life meaning after her death

·      “My dearest partner” – Macbeth sees her as an equal, later proved wrong

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth; their relationship

·      “Unsex me here” – Lady Macbeth wants to be separated from her femininity

·      “Are you a man?” – Lady Macbeth only sees Macbeth as a man if he murders Duncan

·      “Leave all the rest to me” – Lady Macbeth chooses to take control

·      “Innocent flower/serpent” – Lady Macbeth chooses a different persona to protect Macbeth

·      “You look but on a stool” – Lady Macbeth shames Macbeth for being weak and emasculates.

·      “Dearest partner of greatness” – Macbeth sees her as an equal

·      “Signifying nothing” – Macbeth talking about Lady Macbeths life meaning after her death

Guilt; Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

·      “Unsex me here” – LM wants to remove guilt and compassion due to her feminine kindness

·      “Passage to remorse” – LM tries to block out feelings so she can carry out evil actions

·      “Sleep no more” – sleep symbolises peace and innocence, Macbeth’s guilt has destroyed both

·      “A little water clears us” – LM naively believes washing can remove moral guilt

·      “O full of scorpions” – Macbeths guilt poisons his thoughts with paranoia and fear

·      “Gory locks” – Banquos ghost symbolises Macbeths guilt conscience haunting him

·      “In blood stepp’d so far” – Macbeth feels trapped in cycle of violence and guilt, no return

·      “Out damn’d spot!” – imaginary blood on LM symbolises her guilt cannot be removed

·      “What’s done cannot be undone” – LM accepts that guilt cannot be reversed