Macbeth Quote Bank with analysis
1. “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”
Metaphor for guilt as a spot of blood which she cannot wash off her hand.
Recurring motif of bloody hand as a sign of guilt. Inability to wash off the
blood shows how her guilt is inescapable. It pollutes her hand and pollutes
her brain, causing mental deterioration.
Anaphora and repetition of “out” shows desperation to rid herself of her guilt.
Repeated imperatives are a futile attempt to assert the control that she has
lost due to the undermining effect of guilt.
Repeated exclamation marks add to her tone of desperation.
Frequent cesuras breaking up sentences, are symptomatic of a broken mind,
mental decline due to the corrosive force of her guilt.
2. “Like the poor cat i’th’adage”
Simile, use of a proverb about a cat who can’t catch fish because he’s scared
of water. He desires great things but lacks the courage to achieve his
ambitions!
His ambition is less powerful than his fear. LM is opposite
“Poor” = patronising, mocking.
“Cat” = dehumanising, mocking comparison to a weak animal.
3. Lady Macbeth: “speak, speak” VS Macduff “O gentle lady”
LM’s use of imperative, commanding tone, strong.
But Macduff only sees a weak woman before his eyes who he believes is
incapable of even bearing the horrifying thought of murder, let along being
complicit in the act. Connotations of “gentle”: weak, vulnerable, innocent,
fragile
Societal injustice that LM faces - she has to choice but to manipulate Macbeth
and use him as a tool in order to achieve her ambitions
4. “That I may pour my spirits in thine ear”
Metaphor, image of direct psychological manipulation of M by LM, indirectly
controlling his actions, transferring her evil to him through words, infiltrating
his mind, infecting his mind. Mb is simply a tool through which she can exert
her power, an intermediary step she must take due the perception of women
in the Jacobean era as weak and intellectually inferior.
Also, another connection between her and the supernatural “spirits” she calls
on, her power is unnatural and ungodly
5. “A falcon tow’ring in her pride of place was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed”
Parallel with D’s murder, D= majestic, noble and M = inferior, unworthy,
overreaching, usurped position of his rightful superior, above his station.
Turmoil of natural world reflects disruption of divine right of kings
M is unworthy of kingship, D was rightful king, disruption of divine right of
kings, also disrupted natural order of food chain, disrupting natural order.
6. “His title hangs loose about him, like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief”
Metaphor uses a semantic field of sartorial imagery: “hangs”, “robe”, “loose”,
clothes too large for him because they are not rightfully his. They are too
, large for him because they belong to D who was a greater, worthier, more
virtuous king.
Simile compares D to the “giant” and Mb to the “dwarf”. Duncan as “giant” has
greater stature, morally superior, worthier of kingship, Macbeth is
overreaching. Also, “dwarf”, barbaric, primitive, inferior, uncivilised.
“Thief”, Mb stole the crown, usurper of the throne, criminal act, acted
against God because Duncan is God’s representative on Earth, Mb has
disrupted the divine right of kings.
7. “Stop up th’access and passage to remorse”
Imperative, commands spirits, naively thinks she can control the supernatural
world. Wants to dislocate her conscience from herself but it is unnatural, goes
against human nature, also it is impossible. Willing to give up her humanity,
her conscience, for power.
8. LM: “doubtful joy” and M “restless ecstasy”
Oxymoron, Shakespeare demonstrates how guilt and fear will always
undermine the superficial happiness achieved through immoral crimes
against God. Warns against the dangers of pursuing power and wealth at the
expense of virtue and honour, because it will always result in paranoia and
mental torment
Also, sleeplessness as retribution for violating sanctity of sleep
Also, parallel quotes, but said by LM off-stage in a soliloquy and then by M
later on without realising the connection. They experience the same trauma
but the guilt/fear they keep private forces them further apart
9. “The right-valiant Banquo walked too late”
Use of heavy irony and sarcasm, while conveying the information that court
has officially agreed that Banquo was murdered by his son, Flean, as he has
fled. Mocks the absurdity of this narrative presented by Macbeth, heavily lays
suspicion of Macbeth.
Also, “walked too late” may be interpreted as a euphemism for murder,
compelled to use subtle euphemism to convey opinions due to fear
10.“Blood will have blood”
Recurring motif of blood as inescapable guilt which spreads uncontrollably
and cannot be cleansed or hidden
Metaphor for retribution for crimes, one act of violence begets another,
leading to more guilt, fear of retribution, paranoia, violence
Repetition of “blood” (recurring motif for guilt and violence) at beginning and
end of clause, implies a cycle of violence. Violence causes death causes guilt
causes paranoia causes more violence.
11.“His virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against the deep damnation” of
his murder
Simile, “trumpet-tongued” = metaphor, terrified of his evil deed being
broadcast to the world, scared of losing his public image, of shame, fear of
accusation.
“Angels”=holiness, innocence, virtue, “deep damnation”: due to treasonous,
sacrilegious acts (divine right of kings), fear of Hell. Plays into Jacobean
fears of eternal retribution for sins
Terror of retribution restrains his ambition
1. “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”
Metaphor for guilt as a spot of blood which she cannot wash off her hand.
Recurring motif of bloody hand as a sign of guilt. Inability to wash off the
blood shows how her guilt is inescapable. It pollutes her hand and pollutes
her brain, causing mental deterioration.
Anaphora and repetition of “out” shows desperation to rid herself of her guilt.
Repeated imperatives are a futile attempt to assert the control that she has
lost due to the undermining effect of guilt.
Repeated exclamation marks add to her tone of desperation.
Frequent cesuras breaking up sentences, are symptomatic of a broken mind,
mental decline due to the corrosive force of her guilt.
2. “Like the poor cat i’th’adage”
Simile, use of a proverb about a cat who can’t catch fish because he’s scared
of water. He desires great things but lacks the courage to achieve his
ambitions!
His ambition is less powerful than his fear. LM is opposite
“Poor” = patronising, mocking.
“Cat” = dehumanising, mocking comparison to a weak animal.
3. Lady Macbeth: “speak, speak” VS Macduff “O gentle lady”
LM’s use of imperative, commanding tone, strong.
But Macduff only sees a weak woman before his eyes who he believes is
incapable of even bearing the horrifying thought of murder, let along being
complicit in the act. Connotations of “gentle”: weak, vulnerable, innocent,
fragile
Societal injustice that LM faces - she has to choice but to manipulate Macbeth
and use him as a tool in order to achieve her ambitions
4. “That I may pour my spirits in thine ear”
Metaphor, image of direct psychological manipulation of M by LM, indirectly
controlling his actions, transferring her evil to him through words, infiltrating
his mind, infecting his mind. Mb is simply a tool through which she can exert
her power, an intermediary step she must take due the perception of women
in the Jacobean era as weak and intellectually inferior.
Also, another connection between her and the supernatural “spirits” she calls
on, her power is unnatural and ungodly
5. “A falcon tow’ring in her pride of place was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed”
Parallel with D’s murder, D= majestic, noble and M = inferior, unworthy,
overreaching, usurped position of his rightful superior, above his station.
Turmoil of natural world reflects disruption of divine right of kings
M is unworthy of kingship, D was rightful king, disruption of divine right of
kings, also disrupted natural order of food chain, disrupting natural order.
6. “His title hangs loose about him, like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief”
Metaphor uses a semantic field of sartorial imagery: “hangs”, “robe”, “loose”,
clothes too large for him because they are not rightfully his. They are too
, large for him because they belong to D who was a greater, worthier, more
virtuous king.
Simile compares D to the “giant” and Mb to the “dwarf”. Duncan as “giant” has
greater stature, morally superior, worthier of kingship, Macbeth is
overreaching. Also, “dwarf”, barbaric, primitive, inferior, uncivilised.
“Thief”, Mb stole the crown, usurper of the throne, criminal act, acted
against God because Duncan is God’s representative on Earth, Mb has
disrupted the divine right of kings.
7. “Stop up th’access and passage to remorse”
Imperative, commands spirits, naively thinks she can control the supernatural
world. Wants to dislocate her conscience from herself but it is unnatural, goes
against human nature, also it is impossible. Willing to give up her humanity,
her conscience, for power.
8. LM: “doubtful joy” and M “restless ecstasy”
Oxymoron, Shakespeare demonstrates how guilt and fear will always
undermine the superficial happiness achieved through immoral crimes
against God. Warns against the dangers of pursuing power and wealth at the
expense of virtue and honour, because it will always result in paranoia and
mental torment
Also, sleeplessness as retribution for violating sanctity of sleep
Also, parallel quotes, but said by LM off-stage in a soliloquy and then by M
later on without realising the connection. They experience the same trauma
but the guilt/fear they keep private forces them further apart
9. “The right-valiant Banquo walked too late”
Use of heavy irony and sarcasm, while conveying the information that court
has officially agreed that Banquo was murdered by his son, Flean, as he has
fled. Mocks the absurdity of this narrative presented by Macbeth, heavily lays
suspicion of Macbeth.
Also, “walked too late” may be interpreted as a euphemism for murder,
compelled to use subtle euphemism to convey opinions due to fear
10.“Blood will have blood”
Recurring motif of blood as inescapable guilt which spreads uncontrollably
and cannot be cleansed or hidden
Metaphor for retribution for crimes, one act of violence begets another,
leading to more guilt, fear of retribution, paranoia, violence
Repetition of “blood” (recurring motif for guilt and violence) at beginning and
end of clause, implies a cycle of violence. Violence causes death causes guilt
causes paranoia causes more violence.
11.“His virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against the deep damnation” of
his murder
Simile, “trumpet-tongued” = metaphor, terrified of his evil deed being
broadcast to the world, scared of losing his public image, of shame, fear of
accusation.
“Angels”=holiness, innocence, virtue, “deep damnation”: due to treasonous,
sacrilegious acts (divine right of kings), fear of Hell. Plays into Jacobean
fears of eternal retribution for sins
Terror of retribution restrains his ambition
