10 Macbeth quotes

"Fair is foul, foul is fair" - The Witches - Act 1 Scene 1

Opening of play - supernatural effects, reversed repetition - 'foul' (bad) is 'fair' (acceptable), presenting audience with play's reversed morals

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"Brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name" - Ross - Act 1 Scene 2

Current monarchy hold a bad judge of character, patriarchal beliefs + slight foreshadowing - 'brave' - daring + masculine

2 of 10

"The instruments of darkness tell us truths - win us with honest trifles - to betray's* in deepest consequence" - Banquo - Act 1 Scene 3
*'s = us

Foreshadowing entire play + consequences, 'instruments of darkness' - witches + supernatural, 'truths' and 'honest' - juxtaposition - evil witches vs their truths, 'deepest consequence' - death + play's downfall

3 of 10

"Let not light see my dark and deep desires" - Macbeth - Act 1 Scene 4

Macbeth already plans on killing King - no influence from Lady Macbeth, 'light' - his close relationships, 'deep' suppressed within him, supernatural influence on his 'desires'

4 of 10

"Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under't*" - Lady Macbeth - Act 1 Scene 5
*'t = it

LM is two-faced, appear innocent but act deadly, hiding Macbeth's true intentions

5 of 10

"Unsex me here, and fill me (...) with the direst cruelty" - Lady Macbeth - Act 1 Scene 5

LM refuses her feminine traits, views 'cruelty' as masculine, refuses patriarchal expectations, calls upon supernatural

6 of 10

"When thou durst do it, then you were a man" - Lady Macbeth - Act 1 Scene 7

LM forcing toxic masculinity, using patriarchy against Macbeth, M's tipping point to prove his masculinity

7 of 10

"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hands" - Macbeth - Act 2 Scene 2

Physical appearance of guilt - 'blood' - foreshadows LM, 'Neptune' - (good + pure) supernatural - not all supernatural is bad

8 of 10

"Full of scorpions is my mind dear wife" - Macbeth - Act 2 Scene 3

Macbeth still feels guilt, 'scorpions' - deadly - Macbeth's mind is betraying him, 'dear wife' - shows love for LM - seeks comfort within her - juxtaposition of relationship later in play

9 of 10

"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow" - Macbeth - Act 5 Scene 2

Macbeth reflects on his life + actions - regret + remorse, 'candle' can be put out - foreshadows Macduff murdering Macbeth, 'shadow' - forever chaseable yet never obtainable - spent his whole life chasing more

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10 Macbeth quotes

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