#separator:tab #html:true #deck column:1 #tags column:8 GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Fair is foul, and foul
is fair 1.1 W
Repeated fricatives - menacing feeling and different rhythm with rhyming couplets
Trochaic tetrameter
Oxymoron or paradox - world turned upside down
Augmented by pathetic fallacy
Theme of supernatural introduced before audience meet Macbeth shows strength GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes +
Analysis unseamed him from the nave to th'chaps 1.2
Inhumane and supernatural tone
Brutally killing someone - foreshadows murders throughout play
Penultimate time Macbeth murders through own actions - not cowardly
Foreshadows his own death GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis smoked with bloody execution 1.2
Power visual imagery - horrifying image on audience and highlights cyclical structure
Foreshadows deep irony - play begins with Macbeth beheading, ends with Macbeth's head held up GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth
Quotes + Analysis What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won "1.2 D
Duncan says about previous ToC - believes Macbeth ""brave"" and ""noble"" after defeating Norwegians, juxtaposition
Witches ""when the battle's lost and won""
Find later actions even more shocking
Theme of appearance and reality introduced
Semantic field of winning and losing - opposites echo witches and create sense of fate
Foreshadows downfall of Macbeth" GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king
hereafter! 1.3 W
Witches prophecies for Macbeth
Catalyses his hamartia, unchecked ambition GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Thou shalt get kings, though thou
be none 1.3 W
Witches prophecies for Banquo
Not as powerful Macbeth, he is better man and his children shall be kings GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis So
foul and fair a day I have not seen 1.3 M
Macbeth opening line - paradox similar to witches
Alliteration suggests he is already evil or susceptible to their influence - dark tone
Theme of paradox since this conflicting type of choice will confront Macbeth GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis If
chance may have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir 1.3 M
Macbeth does not plan to try to become king
Clear he already knows what he would have to do GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis There's no art to find the
mind's construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust 1.4 D
Dramatic irony - Macbeth will do the same to him
Links to theme of deception - deliberately hiding your true intentions GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Stars, hide
your fires, let light not see my black and deep desires 1.4 M
Juxtaposition between black and light highlights inner conflict of his ambition, desire for power, morality
Rhyme connects thoughts and actions
Stars are linked to fate and therefore fate vs free will
Jacobean audience believed in fate and stars, 21st more sceptical but still horoscopes
Aside spoken for audience to hear thoughts but not others so adds to effect evil scheming GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes
+ Analysis my dearest partner of greatness 1.5 LM
shows equality in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship at the start of the play
Will deteriorate as they commit their crimes GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis too full o'th milk of human kindness
1.5 LM
Milk langauge - gives life and nurtures babies but it disgusts her
Allied here to evil and shown to be incredibly ambitious
Soliloquy - true thoughts aloud on stage
Shocking insight - denounces stereotypical female qualities, audience know what she is scheming
Ambitious from first introduction, perhaps not what either audience expecting GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis
Come you spirits ... unsex me here ... take my milk for gall 1.5 LM
Verb highlights her desire to be free of her feminine attributes and become totally masculine
Spirits - supernatural
Asking to replace milk with poison - basic maternal instinct
Highly shocking - sets tone for rest of play GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Come, thick night, and pall thee in the
dunnest smoke of hell "1.5 LM
Darkness imagery links to theme of deception, similar to 1.4
Despite aligning with devil, still fears heaven could hold her back ""nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark""" GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis fill me from the crown to the toe top full of direst cruelty 1.5 LM
Abandoning all traces of morality and embracing direst cruelty
Visual image of her transformation into monster GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Look like th'innocent flower, but
be the serpent under it 1.5 LM
Flower juxtaposes reference to serpent to highlight twofold nature and foreshadow Macbeth deceitful path inevitably take - result of regicide
Snake links to the devil and Edenic garden and theme of deception GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis The air is
delicate "1.6 B
Reality and appearance are different
Air delicate and castle ""loved"", setting for a murder
Shows deceitfulness of Macbeth and reign later on" GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Fair and noble hostess "1.6
D
Fair compliment from D to LM, suspiciously contradicts with ""fair is foul""
Semantic field of femininity and women expected to manage house
Contrasts LM insulting nature, ""green and pale""" GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis vaulting ambition which
o'erleaps itself 1.7 M
Ambition to become king is only reason he has for killing Duncan who is a good king
Verb personifies and highlights relentless and greedy nature
Consumed by ambition and greed GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis When you durst do it, then you were a man
1.7 LM
Undermining her husbands manliness
Extremely powerful
Clearly knows how to manipulate him GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis I have given suck... I would... have dashed
the brains out, had I so sworn 1.7 LM
Violent imagery emphasises her lack of maternal instincts
Commitment to power GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis like the poor cat i'th'adage 1.7 LM
Animalistic imagery, simile
Compares M to lowest of felines, attacks his pride and destroys his masculine ego GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes +
Analysis We will proceed no further in this business
False face must hide what false heart doth know 1.7 M
So sure yet she works hard and overturns it
Fricatives and monosyllables create sence of certainty but idea is about deception and appearance and reality - so does he really want to
proceed?
Adopted her language style from previous scene 1.5
In her thrall and she dominates, aligned here to supernatural and evil GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis A dagger
of the mind, a false creation "2.1 M
Dagger metaphor for all of m guilt for having ""black"" desires of regicide, but more significantly, it represents his excessive ambition, and
highlights greed gone so far, mind and thoughts totally consumed by hunger for power" GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes +
Analysis Is this a dagger which I see before me...? Come, let me clutch thee "2.1 M
Opening line - introduces internal debate
Dagger hallucination - demonstrates toll the murder is already having on him
Foreshadows his own bloody death when it has ""gouts of blood""
Caesura - questioning and uncertain
Imperative command suggests he is trying to transfer blame to dagger, it is culprit
""heat oppress'd brain"" or devilish witches tricking him
Choses to interpret as sign to continue, audience might believe to be an ill omen" GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes +
Analysis Hear it not, Duncan for it is a knell. That summons thee to heaven or to hell 2.1 M
Rhyming couplet emphasises the finality of Macbeth's decision
Aware that he could be condemning Duncan to hell, yet still proceeds
Links to decision to murder Banquo in 3.1 GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis But wherefore could not I pronounce
'Amen'? 2.2 M
Inability to pray demonstrates how he has condemned himself in God's eyes by committing regicide and killing God's representative on Earth
Upsets Great Chain of Being GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Macbeth does murder sleep 2.2
Recurring motif of sleep
Lack of sleep direct result of bloody deeds and subsequent guilt GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Will all great
Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? 2.2 M
Obsession with blood motif for guilt
Hyperbole - Realises enormity of guilt
All seas of globe cannot expunge it - neptune roman god of the sea
Questioning and answers himself in the negative reflects his turmoil
Losing his grip on reality - committed worst sin, hands permanently stained
Havent seen murder - strategy from Greek theatre, imagination worse than anything they could perform
Macduff knocking at gate, man who will destroy Macbeth GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis My hands are of your
colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white. 2.2 LM
Colour imagery demonstrates contrast between M and LM
Maintains focus on Macbeth's guilty hands GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis A little water clears us of this deed,
how easy is it then! 2.2
LM flippant remark contrasts with Ms comment about Neptune's oceans
Contrast with obsession with washing hands in 5.1 GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Wake Duncan with thou
knocking: I would thou couldst 2.2
Instantly regretting his actions
Knocking echoes Macbeth's pounding heart - sign of fear and guilt GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis most
sacrilegious murder 2.3 Macduff
Superlative works alongside adjective to highlight severity of crime
Reinforces religious consequences of regicide - divine right of kings
Stated King god's representative on Earth - killing him is tantamount to killing part of God himself GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth
Quotes + Analysis here's an equivocator 2.3
Noun symbolises Macbeth and highlights that Macbeth's fate is now set in stone - no matter what he does now, he cannot equivocate or
deceive his way into heaven
Play aims to discourage regicide, de Quincey's idea, no matter how perfect crime is consequences can never be averted GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Night has been unruly "2.3 Lennox
Nature in turmoil over King's murder
Lennox describes unruly night in which the ""lamentings and ""strange screams of death"" seem hellish" GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis 'Tis day and yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp 2.4 Ross
Motif of light and darkness throughout the play
Starts as way of creating atmosphere, becomes morbid in Act 5 when Lady Macbeth goes insane GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth
Quotes + Analysis A falcon towering in her pride of place was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed 2.4 Old Man
Animal imagery symbolise M and idea he is hunting far larger prey than supposed to
Macbeth's soaring ambition
Macbeth associated with night and evil
Falcon, most respected of birds, represents D and idea M regicide tipped balances of nature and sent world into chaos GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis ..Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the weird women promised and I fear Thou play'dst
most foully for't. 3.1 B
It is power and tricolon makes seem unnatural, especially as it is backwards
Banquo's suspicions remind audience of supernatural influence and foul becomes motif
Themes of corruption, deceit, and ambition GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Myself should be the root and father
of many kings 3.1 B
Natural imagery links to Duncan comparing Macbeth and Banquo to growing trees in 1.4 and Macbeth comparing Duncan to source of fountain
in 2.3 GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Fail not our feast 3.1 M
Twofold dramatic irony
Macbeth expects him to fail to attend, as he is having him killed
Unknown to Macbeth, Banquo's ghost will attend GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Banquo, thy soul's flight, if it
find heaven, must find it out tonight 3.1 M
Links to Macbeth's earlier idea to kill Duncan in 2.1 - heaven or not
Rhyming couplet emphasises the finality of his decision GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Tis safer to be that
which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. "3.2 LM
Oxymoron reflects her conflicted state of mind and misery
Doubt could mean suspicion or fear at the time
Dramatic change to her previous anger and persuasion
Importantly she is alone and dropped the ""false face"" - but when he comes on stage she hides these feelings
Effectively says she would be better off dead - like Duncan" GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis O, full of scorpions
is my mind, dear wife! "3.2 M
Animal imagery illustrates Macbeth's descent into madness and highlights how he has been inflicted by diseases as scorpions are poisonous
Interesting parallel to 1.7 where he is ""green and pale"", however disease here is excess ambition, previously it was lack of ambition" GSCE
English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis It will be rain to-night 3.3 B
Motif of light and dark, could represent evil and good
Pathetic fallacy of Banquo's murder GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Thou canst not say that I did it; never
shake / Thy gory locks at me "3.4 M
Pronoun I strictly correct - h e employed murderers but is guilty
Blood is gore - terrifies him
If hallucinating, reflects his troubled mind
If ghost sent by witches, manipulation and evil
Guilt inspired hallucination - Banquo name
Sits on throne - Macbeth not just ruler and Banquo's descendents will be king
Dramatic device to manifest feelings on stage
""displaces the mirth"" - destroy peaceful atmosphere
Destroyed natural order by regicide
Negative - dont accept full consequences
Power dynamic rapidly fluctuating" GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis It will have blood, they say; blood will have
blood. 3.4 M
Repetition of blood shows his fear and how he is seeing the inevitability of his downfall through his hamartia GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Are you a man? 3.4 LM
Emasculates him
Earlier tactics 1.7 questions his masculainty
Does not have same effect GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis A dismal and a fatal end 3.5 Hecate
Prepare strong spell in order to mess with Macbeth
Foreshadows Macbeth's ultimate downfall GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis By the pricking of my thumbs,
something wicked this way comes 4.1 2nd W
Macbeth dehumanised - a thing
Witches won and complicit with his wicked and evil actions
Although he goes to them, it seems they control him and further expose his flaws
Reflected in the rhyme
Customary to fold the thumb into the palm to guard against the supernatural - King James I very superstitious so appeases him
Couplet emphasises Macbeth's wickedness and making their words sound more spell-like GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes
+ Analysis None of woman born shall harm Macbeth "4.1 W
Twofold language in prophecies designed to trick Macbeth and ""fair and foul"" nature we know there will be a brutal catch" GSCE
English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall
come against him 4.1 W
Malcolms army using the trees as camouflage GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis He is noble, wise, judicious 4.2
Ross
Tricolon of flattery links into anti regicidal scheme - given Macduff ends up killing M, who killed holy King Duncan GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis He has no children. All my pretty ones? Did you say all? ... I must also feel it as a man 4.3 Macduff
Knows he will never truly be able to make M suffer the pain he is in as he has no children to kill
Despite emotions, will avenge death as man should, channelling grief into anger
Theme of masculinity throughout, Macduff heartfelt compared to Macbeth's heartlessness GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes
+ Analysis dispute it like a man 4.3 Malcolm to Macduff
Exploits Macduffs desire to feel masculine and conform gender expectations of Jacobean era
Simile highlights Macduff not yet fully masculine, taking advantage of favourable male stereotype at the time GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis your wife and babes / Savagely slaughter'd 4.3 Ross to Macduff
Sibilance creates hissing audial effect - reinforcing terrible nature of the news
Adverb highlights animalistic nature of M and consequences of his unchecked ambition and endless desire for power GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis She has light by her continually "5.1 Gentlewoman
Shows darkness which LM previously found comfort in to hide her deeds is now tormenting her
Once wanted ""thick night"" in order to do murders, however now almost wants to reverse her actions" GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis there's knocking at the gate 5.1 LM
knocking parallel with [knock within] in Porter scene and 2.2, highlights her and Macbeth's eternal damnation is inevitable and creates s
powerful visual image of gates of hell drawing closer GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Out, damned spot! Out, I
say! "5.1 LM
Obsession with imaginary blood, motif of guilt
Originally said ""a little water clears us of these deeds"" but has proven false
Haunted by guilt
Disjointed speech pattern and fragmented syntax reveals her turmoil as she descends into madness" GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Hell is murky "5.1 LM
Aligned with Satan and evil here and aware that sin obscures everything in her line, ""Hell is murky""" GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand 5.1 LM
Mirrors Macbeth's comment on Neptune's ocean in 2.2
Knows deep down that she can't change what has happened, so could foreshadow how she wants to control her life GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis like a giant's robe / Upon a dwarfish thief "5.2 Angus
Juxtaposition between ""giant"" and ""dwarfish"" - highlights Macbeth not fit to rule, essentially murdered his way to power and is usurper, direct
comparison between M and D
Comparison to ""dwarf"" emasculates him and implies that, beneath illusion of beast, he is weak pathetic dwarf" GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Drown the weeds 5.2 Lennox
Wants to get rid of Macbeth
Links to theme of nature
Compares M to weed because he is preventing anything else from growing and he is destroying the land GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis almost forgotten the taste of fear 5.5 M
Noun works alongside reference to sense of taste
Highlights that Macbeth has crossed the line and become subhuman by abandoning fear GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes +
Analysis 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. 5.5 M
Life here tedious and repetition emphasises this
Nothing is important as he has lost dreams of power and wife
Alliteration of p and verb creeps suggesting stealthy, slow, relentless mortality of man
Speech rhythmic and compulsive signalling his growing madness - pace is slow, he is exhausted GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth
Quotes + Analysis brief candle "5.5 M
Noun works alongside adjective to portray life as short burst of fire, then depressing existence, highlights depressing nature of existence - life
filled with ""sound and fury""
Macbeth views emotion as simply a difficulty that serves no purpose" GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Life's but
a walking shadow 5.5 M
Macbeth's approach to life has been transformed by his actions, with nothing having meaning anymore GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis My soul is too much charged ... with blood of thine already 5.8 M
Macbeth warning Macduff, half gloating at the murder of Macduff's family GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis
Macduff was from his mother's womb ... untimely ripp'd 5.8 Macduff
Realised his Caesarean section, along with moving of Birnam Wood - makes M realise that he has met his end GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis This dead butcher and his fiend-like queen 5.9 Malcolm
Beast like characterisation and highlights that throughout his life he only brought death and dismay on the world
Demon like qualities juxtaposes what she should have been like as queen - highlighting eternal damnation for regicide and deception
Malcolm speaks of the 'grace and god' a stark contrasts to Macbeth's dark, often supernatural language
Malcolm's Christian nature would signal him to be an excellent king to the Jacobean audience GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth
Quotes + Analysis Thanks to all at once and each one ... Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone 5.9 Malcolm
Closes play with couplet
Shows natural order restored
Giving audience sense of hope through its finality
Restoration and catharsis
United Kingdom GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis Calls the dagger an ''instrument'' Alludes to how the
''instruments of darkness'', with their dark musicality have brought him to this point - supernatural induced GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis ''Never shake thy gory locks at me'' ''Gory'' suggests that Banquo's ghost is a physical manifestation of
his violence. Structurally, murderers enter banquet before Macbeth, exacerbating how his kingship is unnatural and has voided the DoK GSCE
English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis ''had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done it'' The beginning exposes her
guilty conscience coming to the service, exposing her inner cowardice and ingrained fear of patricide. Lady Macbeth is manipulative as she
operates within a liminal gender, taking advantage of feminine weakness where it works in her favour yet brutally rejects it if it represses her.
GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis ''an armed head, a blood child, a child crowned with a tree in his hand''
Manifestations of threats Macbeth faces, decapitation, Macduff Caesarean, Birnam wood. GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes
+ Analysis ''I have no word; my voice is my sword'' Emphasis on Macduff's heroic qualities and draws on a key idiom - actions speak louder than
words - Macbeth's ungodly actions are not worthy of words anymore, order only restored with his execution. GSCE English::English
lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis ''tell me'' and ''call em'' Macbeth speaks in imperative phrases displaying his hubris and desire for
power. Ironic as audience see how witches have made him a victim. GSCE English::English lit::Macbeth::Macbeth Quotes + Analysis ''My soul it
too much charg'd with blood of thine already'' Macbeth maintains his capacity for guilt and remorse throughout the whole text, he must remain
somewhat redeemable to be characterised as a tragic hero.