Macbeth Ambition

Term

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"why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs"

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Definition

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The first of the witches' predictions have come true - Macbeth is now the Thane of Cawdor. The second prediction is that he will be King. Thoughts go through his mind of how he might become the new king. Macbeth uses euphemisms like "suggestion" and "horrid image" to talk about killing the king. Is he so horrified with the thought that he can't bring himself to say the word murder?

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Terms in this set (10)

"why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs"

"unsex me"

Lady Macbeth does not believe that Macbeth has it in him to kill the king so she prays to dark forces to give her the power to be able to carry out the task herself. She asks the spirits to become more like a man; or it can mean she does not want to have any gender, she does not want to be a man or a woman - she wants to be inhuman.

When you durst do it, then you were a man

Lady Macbeth in this speech, manipulates Macbeth through a number of strategies including attacking his masculinity - she accuses him of not being a man if he does not kill the king

"These deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad."

This is ironic because it is Lady Macbeth who finally goes mad and kills herself

"To be thus is nothing,
But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep"

What he means is to be king is nothing but to remain on the throne safely without fear of being assassinated or overthrown is what he craves. He is becoming paranoid and begins to fear Banquo suspects.

"O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!"

Macbeth has just arranged for the murder of his very best friend Banquo. He is suggesting here in this metaphor that his mind is full of poisonous, evil thoughts

"Are you a man?

What, quite unmanned in folly?"

Lady Macbeth sees that Macbeth has lost control and for the last time in the play challenges his manhood. This is the last time we her in control and the last time we see Macbeth not in control.

"I have almost forgot the taste of fears."

Lady Macbeth has just killed herself. The noise makes Macbeth feel a tinge of fear.