Macbeth AQA GCSE Quotes
Quotes & themes they apply to Analysis
“A dagger of the mind, a false creation” Consequences of his ambition has cause
(2.1) him mental stress and near insanity. The
Ambition and tragic flaws, Macbeth vision of a bloody knife foreshadows his
descent into darkness.
“Neptunes ocean wash this blood //clean Motif of sin- which symbolises sin,
from my hand” (2.2)
connected to guilt whilst encountering
Macbeth, guilt
Lady Macbeth after killing Duncan. This is
a rhetorical question which suggests this
sin won't wash away. “Gouts of blood”
evokes visceral reactions from the
audience and are visual representatives
of guilt. This contradicts the start where
blood represented Macbeths loyalty and
bravery as a soldier.
“We’d jump on life to come” (1.7) The afterlife is only granted to those who
Macbeth, guilt and religion honour God, suggesting he is mortal and
Abandoned by God for killing which is a
breach of the 10 commandments.
Macbeth is conflicted and should have
listened to his conscience or faith, rather
than his wife. This causes moral and
religious consequences of his guilt.
“Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps He compares his current situation to
itself” horse riding, ambition as a metaphorical
Macbeth, ambition spur as he the reader uses to motivate
his horse (makes his plan reality). A horse
rider may overestimate their ability when
trying to clear an obstacle and fall.
Macbeths admission foreshadows his
tragic ending.
“Those he commands, move only in Macbeth is unsuccessful at maintaining
command //nothing in love” (5.2) order and trust in his people. His county
Macbeth, callous leadership has no love which represents his own
callous nature. He is completely
shameless in his god/like control over
reality.
“No son of mine succeeding” (3.1) Macbeth's poor kingship is solidified by
Macbeth, no heir his lack of lineage and heirs. Evident that
he feels emasculated by his inability to
produce an heir, represented through his
jealousy of Banquo and resentment of
the witches. He resents Banquo because
, of his sons, who will be kings and resents
the witches for making him king without
successors.
“Thunder and lightning” (1.5) This pathetic fallacy represents
Stage directions disruption and chaos. The aggressive
weather creates an ominous feel to the
audience and creates an ’evil-like’
environment. The witches appear on
stage when this happens, so the cold
tone is important which means the
atmosphere on stage reflects the evil
nature of the witches.
Iambic pentameter- enhances the
“And wash away this filthy witness from expressiveness of the action done
your hand” (murder) and adds depth to the meaning
Structure by emphasises words.
She's introduced like this to foreground
“Art not without ambition, but without // the fact that Lady Macbeths defining trait
The illness should attend it” (1.5) is her ambition. She's the ultimate
Lady Macbeth, ambition catalyst for the plot, spurring her
husband to commit murder. Lady
Macbeth implies that you only act on your
ambitions and achieve greatness when
you sacrifice or ignore your moral
compass. Evil is equated with ‘illness’
and pursuing one's ambition, generally
necessities doing evil deeds- evil and
ambition are intimately linked.
She envies all the dead for their peace of
“Noughts had, all’s spent” (3.2) mind. ‘All’s spent’ could mean the cost
Lady Macbeth, consequences of guilt for feeding guilty of a crime which alludes
to her mental exhaustion. Lady Macbeth
becomes aware of the infinite cycle of
violence they've got themselves into, to
satisfy their paranoia. This religiously
proves that sins and crimes are never
rewarded and that perpetrators are only
left with their remorse.
Implying that you can't change fate and
“What's done is done” (3.2) must live with the consequences. Greed
“What's done can't be undone” (5.1) and ambition can't predict the guilt that
Lady Macbeth, unescapable guilt and comes with turning fantasies into reality.
regret The repetition suggests she's trying to
convince herself to get the courage to
face reality and could reinforce her
increasing feelings of guilt and
desperation.
Quotes & themes they apply to Analysis
“A dagger of the mind, a false creation” Consequences of his ambition has cause
(2.1) him mental stress and near insanity. The
Ambition and tragic flaws, Macbeth vision of a bloody knife foreshadows his
descent into darkness.
“Neptunes ocean wash this blood //clean Motif of sin- which symbolises sin,
from my hand” (2.2)
connected to guilt whilst encountering
Macbeth, guilt
Lady Macbeth after killing Duncan. This is
a rhetorical question which suggests this
sin won't wash away. “Gouts of blood”
evokes visceral reactions from the
audience and are visual representatives
of guilt. This contradicts the start where
blood represented Macbeths loyalty and
bravery as a soldier.
“We’d jump on life to come” (1.7) The afterlife is only granted to those who
Macbeth, guilt and religion honour God, suggesting he is mortal and
Abandoned by God for killing which is a
breach of the 10 commandments.
Macbeth is conflicted and should have
listened to his conscience or faith, rather
than his wife. This causes moral and
religious consequences of his guilt.
“Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps He compares his current situation to
itself” horse riding, ambition as a metaphorical
Macbeth, ambition spur as he the reader uses to motivate
his horse (makes his plan reality). A horse
rider may overestimate their ability when
trying to clear an obstacle and fall.
Macbeths admission foreshadows his
tragic ending.
“Those he commands, move only in Macbeth is unsuccessful at maintaining
command //nothing in love” (5.2) order and trust in his people. His county
Macbeth, callous leadership has no love which represents his own
callous nature. He is completely
shameless in his god/like control over
reality.
“No son of mine succeeding” (3.1) Macbeth's poor kingship is solidified by
Macbeth, no heir his lack of lineage and heirs. Evident that
he feels emasculated by his inability to
produce an heir, represented through his
jealousy of Banquo and resentment of
the witches. He resents Banquo because
, of his sons, who will be kings and resents
the witches for making him king without
successors.
“Thunder and lightning” (1.5) This pathetic fallacy represents
Stage directions disruption and chaos. The aggressive
weather creates an ominous feel to the
audience and creates an ’evil-like’
environment. The witches appear on
stage when this happens, so the cold
tone is important which means the
atmosphere on stage reflects the evil
nature of the witches.
Iambic pentameter- enhances the
“And wash away this filthy witness from expressiveness of the action done
your hand” (murder) and adds depth to the meaning
Structure by emphasises words.
She's introduced like this to foreground
“Art not without ambition, but without // the fact that Lady Macbeths defining trait
The illness should attend it” (1.5) is her ambition. She's the ultimate
Lady Macbeth, ambition catalyst for the plot, spurring her
husband to commit murder. Lady
Macbeth implies that you only act on your
ambitions and achieve greatness when
you sacrifice or ignore your moral
compass. Evil is equated with ‘illness’
and pursuing one's ambition, generally
necessities doing evil deeds- evil and
ambition are intimately linked.
She envies all the dead for their peace of
“Noughts had, all’s spent” (3.2) mind. ‘All’s spent’ could mean the cost
Lady Macbeth, consequences of guilt for feeding guilty of a crime which alludes
to her mental exhaustion. Lady Macbeth
becomes aware of the infinite cycle of
violence they've got themselves into, to
satisfy their paranoia. This religiously
proves that sins and crimes are never
rewarded and that perpetrators are only
left with their remorse.
Implying that you can't change fate and
“What's done is done” (3.2) must live with the consequences. Greed
“What's done can't be undone” (5.1) and ambition can't predict the guilt that
Lady Macbeth, unescapable guilt and comes with turning fantasies into reality.
regret The repetition suggests she's trying to
convince herself to get the courage to
face reality and could reinforce her
increasing feelings of guilt and
desperation.
