MACBETH
QUOTE BANK
GCSE English Literature
13 pages of quotes and analysis
MACBETH QUOTES
QUOTE ANALYSIS
“Horrid image doth unfix my - Macbeth uses euphemisms to describe
hair”// “Horrible imaginings”// regicide, he is unable to even say what he has
“Horrid deed.” I.iii done, he recognises that regicide is a truly
terrible crime.
- Repetition of ‘horrid’, quite a simplistic litotical
adjective
“My thought, whose murder is - No euphemism, actually uses the word ‘murder’,
yet but fantastical” I.iii now taking ownership over his actions.
- “Fantasitical” - at this point the regicide is
nothing but a dream for Macbeth.
“Happy prologues to the - Idea of ambition as an illness - motif throughout
swelling act of the imperial the play
theme” I.iii - “Swelling” - grows uncontrollably like a cancer,
will prove fatal eventually.
“If chance will have me King, - Personification of chance, emphasises
why chance may crown me Macbeth’s ambition but also his hesitancy.
without my stir” I.iii - Switches to speak in Prose, used by
Shakespeare to indicate fall from status,
foreshadows how Macbeth will fall from grace as
the tragic hero of the play.
“He seems rapt withal” I.iii - Banquo says after Macbeth hears witches'
prophecies.
, - Macbeth is consumed with thoughts on
prophecies.
- ‘Rapt’ - like when we wrap a Christmas present
and surround it with paper. Macbeth is
consumed and surrounded by these thoughts on
his future.
“Vaulting ambition which - His ambition propels him up and increase his
o’erleaps itself and falls on status.
th’other” I.vii - Metaphor of horse riding to compare himself to a
horse rider who overestimates their ability to
leap over an obstacle and fall down.
Metaphorically his horse is Lady Macbeth.
“False face must hide what the - Fricative alliteration creates unpleasant and
false heart doth know” I.viii eerie mood, reminiscent of ‘fair is foul and foul is
fair’
- Theme of appearance vs reality, Shakespeare
critiques the class system of Jacobean England.
“Stars hide your fires, let not - Juxtaposition of light and dark reflects battle
light see my black and deep between good and evil/ heaven and hell /
desires” I.iv temptation and restraint. Macbeth is in the
middle of this battle.
- Use of rhyming couplets to signify a decision
being made.
- Asking fate to look away as he goes against the
Great Chain of Being.
“Why do you dress me in - Metaphorical question, response to being told by
borrowed robes?” I.iii Ross he’s Thane of Cawdor.
- Metaphor for title, sense he doesn’t actively
deserve.
“Does he feel his title hang - Suggested titles can be stolen and taken away,
loose about him, like a giant’s showing how fickle such things are.
robe upon a dwarfish thief?” V.ii - Shakespeare says how fickle class structures of
Jacobean England are.
- ‘Thief’ - Macbeth stole the Crown.
- ‘Giants robe’ - robe size has increased from
Thane to King, sense that Macbeth does not
deserve to be King.
“Macebth doth murder sleep, - ‘Sleep’ becomes a metaphor for the natural
the innocent sleep.” II.ii order, God, the Great Chain of Being. Duncan is
representative of God.
- Duncan was innocent, Macbeth killed him
anyway. Macbeth stole Duncan’s sleep, so
Macbeth will also no longer be able to sleep.
- Link to “with Tarquin’s ravishing strides”,
reference to Tarquin raping women who were
asleep.
“Will all great Neptunes ocean - Continues Macbeth’s connection to Pagan
wash this blood clean from my faiths, Roman God of Ocean - Neptune.
QUOTE BANK
GCSE English Literature
13 pages of quotes and analysis
MACBETH QUOTES
QUOTE ANALYSIS
“Horrid image doth unfix my - Macbeth uses euphemisms to describe
hair”// “Horrible imaginings”// regicide, he is unable to even say what he has
“Horrid deed.” I.iii done, he recognises that regicide is a truly
terrible crime.
- Repetition of ‘horrid’, quite a simplistic litotical
adjective
“My thought, whose murder is - No euphemism, actually uses the word ‘murder’,
yet but fantastical” I.iii now taking ownership over his actions.
- “Fantasitical” - at this point the regicide is
nothing but a dream for Macbeth.
“Happy prologues to the - Idea of ambition as an illness - motif throughout
swelling act of the imperial the play
theme” I.iii - “Swelling” - grows uncontrollably like a cancer,
will prove fatal eventually.
“If chance will have me King, - Personification of chance, emphasises
why chance may crown me Macbeth’s ambition but also his hesitancy.
without my stir” I.iii - Switches to speak in Prose, used by
Shakespeare to indicate fall from status,
foreshadows how Macbeth will fall from grace as
the tragic hero of the play.
“He seems rapt withal” I.iii - Banquo says after Macbeth hears witches'
prophecies.
, - Macbeth is consumed with thoughts on
prophecies.
- ‘Rapt’ - like when we wrap a Christmas present
and surround it with paper. Macbeth is
consumed and surrounded by these thoughts on
his future.
“Vaulting ambition which - His ambition propels him up and increase his
o’erleaps itself and falls on status.
th’other” I.vii - Metaphor of horse riding to compare himself to a
horse rider who overestimates their ability to
leap over an obstacle and fall down.
Metaphorically his horse is Lady Macbeth.
“False face must hide what the - Fricative alliteration creates unpleasant and
false heart doth know” I.viii eerie mood, reminiscent of ‘fair is foul and foul is
fair’
- Theme of appearance vs reality, Shakespeare
critiques the class system of Jacobean England.
“Stars hide your fires, let not - Juxtaposition of light and dark reflects battle
light see my black and deep between good and evil/ heaven and hell /
desires” I.iv temptation and restraint. Macbeth is in the
middle of this battle.
- Use of rhyming couplets to signify a decision
being made.
- Asking fate to look away as he goes against the
Great Chain of Being.
“Why do you dress me in - Metaphorical question, response to being told by
borrowed robes?” I.iii Ross he’s Thane of Cawdor.
- Metaphor for title, sense he doesn’t actively
deserve.
“Does he feel his title hang - Suggested titles can be stolen and taken away,
loose about him, like a giant’s showing how fickle such things are.
robe upon a dwarfish thief?” V.ii - Shakespeare says how fickle class structures of
Jacobean England are.
- ‘Thief’ - Macbeth stole the Crown.
- ‘Giants robe’ - robe size has increased from
Thane to King, sense that Macbeth does not
deserve to be King.
“Macebth doth murder sleep, - ‘Sleep’ becomes a metaphor for the natural
the innocent sleep.” II.ii order, God, the Great Chain of Being. Duncan is
representative of God.
- Duncan was innocent, Macbeth killed him
anyway. Macbeth stole Duncan’s sleep, so
Macbeth will also no longer be able to sleep.
- Link to “with Tarquin’s ravishing strides”,
reference to Tarquin raping women who were
asleep.
“Will all great Neptunes ocean - Continues Macbeth’s connection to Pagan
wash this blood clean from my faiths, Roman God of Ocean - Neptune.
