Key quotes from Macbeth complete
fair is foul, and foul is fair (1.1)
speaker? The three witches
meaning/significance? things aren't always what they seem
theme: appearance/reality
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 (1.3)
speaker? Banquo (to Macbeth)
meaning/significance? A warning/fortelling of what will happen to Macbeth. that evil tries
to tempt us with half truth and it will lead us to our doom
Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it (1.4)
speaker? Malcom (about Cawdor)
Meaning/significance? showing how a person can die with dignity/die well (by
repenting), also it contrasted a good death to Macbeth's death (bad death)
If chance will have me King, why
Chance may crown me,
Without my stir. (1.3)
Speaker? Macbeth
Meaning/significance? Macbeth is hoping he will not have to do anything to become
king, that fate will take care of it
theme: fate
That is a step on which
I must fall down or o'er leap
Stars, hide your fires!
Let not light see my black and deep desires. (1.4)
speaker? Macbeth (to himself)
Meaning/significance? he is now commited to killing Duncan...it shows the growth of evil
in Macbeth... showing what side he is aligning with... first step down a slipper slope
Yet do I fear thy nature.
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way. (1.5)
speaker? Lady Macbeth (to herself)
Meaning/significance? L. Macbeth is worried about her husband's wishwashiness...
shows gender bending (shes crueler)
theme:gender bending
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! (1.5)
speaker? Lady Macbeth
Meaning/significance? shows L.Macbeth siding with evil forces
themes: unnatural, gender bending
Look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under't. (I.5)
speaker? Lady Macbeth (to Macbeth)
meaning/significance? L.Macbeth is telling her husband to lie and act innocent
themes: appearance/reality
I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself
And falls on the other - (1.7)
speaker? Macbeth
meaning/significane? showing Macbeth's only motivation is his ambition
theme: ambition
I do all that may become a man
Who dares do more is none. (1.7)
When you durst do it, then you were a man; (1.7)
speaker(s)? Macbeth->lady macbeth
meaning/significance? Lady Macbeth is convincing her to husband to "be a man"...
shows macbeths hesitance/humaness
theme: gender bending
False face must hide what false heart doth know (1.7)
speaker? macbeth
meaning/significance? Macbeth shows his commitment to putting up an act of being
innocent, choosing to hide things instead of confessing/repenting
theme:appearance/reality
Methought I heard a voice cry "Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep"—the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care. (2.2)
speaker? Macbeth
meaning/significance? Shows Macbeth is feeling guilty (for killing Duncan) and also
jumpy
themes? sleep/dreams, clothes motif
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? (2.2)
fair is foul, and foul is fair (1.1)
speaker? The three witches
meaning/significance? things aren't always what they seem
theme: appearance/reality
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 (1.3)
speaker? Banquo (to Macbeth)
meaning/significance? A warning/fortelling of what will happen to Macbeth. that evil tries
to tempt us with half truth and it will lead us to our doom
Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it (1.4)
speaker? Malcom (about Cawdor)
Meaning/significance? showing how a person can die with dignity/die well (by
repenting), also it contrasted a good death to Macbeth's death (bad death)
If chance will have me King, why
Chance may crown me,
Without my stir. (1.3)
Speaker? Macbeth
Meaning/significance? Macbeth is hoping he will not have to do anything to become
king, that fate will take care of it
theme: fate
That is a step on which
I must fall down or o'er leap
Stars, hide your fires!
Let not light see my black and deep desires. (1.4)
speaker? Macbeth (to himself)
Meaning/significance? he is now commited to killing Duncan...it shows the growth of evil
in Macbeth... showing what side he is aligning with... first step down a slipper slope
Yet do I fear thy nature.
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way. (1.5)
speaker? Lady Macbeth (to herself)
Meaning/significance? L. Macbeth is worried about her husband's wishwashiness...
shows gender bending (shes crueler)
theme:gender bending
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! (1.5)
speaker? Lady Macbeth
Meaning/significance? shows L.Macbeth siding with evil forces
themes: unnatural, gender bending
Look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under't. (I.5)
speaker? Lady Macbeth (to Macbeth)
meaning/significance? L.Macbeth is telling her husband to lie and act innocent
themes: appearance/reality
I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself
And falls on the other - (1.7)
speaker? Macbeth
meaning/significane? showing Macbeth's only motivation is his ambition
theme: ambition
I do all that may become a man
Who dares do more is none. (1.7)
When you durst do it, then you were a man; (1.7)
speaker(s)? Macbeth->lady macbeth
meaning/significance? Lady Macbeth is convincing her to husband to "be a man"...
shows macbeths hesitance/humaness
theme: gender bending
False face must hide what false heart doth know (1.7)
speaker? macbeth
meaning/significance? Macbeth shows his commitment to putting up an act of being
innocent, choosing to hide things instead of confessing/repenting
theme:appearance/reality
Methought I heard a voice cry "Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep"—the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care. (2.2)
speaker? Macbeth
meaning/significance? Shows Macbeth is feeling guilty (for killing Duncan) and also
jumpy
themes? sleep/dreams, clothes motif
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? (2.2)
