Key quotes from Macbeth

fair is foul, and foul is fair (1.1)
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Terms in this set (25)
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 (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
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
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
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
Unsex me here,
And fill me...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 - (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
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? (2.2)speaker? Macbeth meaning/signficance? showing his guilt, how he feels he will never be clean, evil will spread as a result (dominoes effect) themes? order/disorder, guilt, great chaine of beingA little water clears us of this deed (2.2)speaker? Lady Macbeth meaning/significance? saying it will be easy to shake this off/be clean/guilt-free, contrasts towards Macbeth who says the opposite themes? deceptionthere's daggers in men's smiles. (2.3)speaker? Donlbaine (to malcom) Meaning/significance? Donlbaine saying you cannot trust anyone theme? appearance v. realityThou hast it now—King, Cawdor, Glamis, all... I fear Thou played'st most foully for't. (3.1)speaker? Banquo (about Macbeth) meaning/significance? Banquo suspects that Macbeth killed Duncan for the crown themes? ambition, unnatural evil...To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep. (3.1)speaker? Macbeth meaning/significance? shows his growing ambition and paranoia, shows he is still worried about the prophecy of Banquo's decendents theme: ambition...Naught's had, all's spent, Where our desire is got without content. 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. (3.2)speaker? lady macbeth meaning/significance? she reveals regret/doubt, shows the hedonists paradox, shows her insecurity and fearfullness themes: guiltIt will have blood, they say; blood will have blood. Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak. (3.4)speaker? Macbeth meaning/significance? showing how he is scared, forshadowing what will happen theme: guilt, idea of vengance/things put back into orderI am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er. (3.4)speaker? Macbeth meaning/significane? I don't care about anything but my own good anymore...I'm in to far, it's to late for me to go back (no turning back) theme: ambitionFrom this moment The firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand. (4.1)speaker? macbeth meaning/significance? proves he feels secure (as a result of the two prophecies), shows he is growing more impulsive and ambitious themes: evilIt cannot Be called our mother, but our grave. (4.3)speaker? Ross (to Macduff and Malcom) meaning/significance? shows that because the great chaine of being was disrupted (by macbeth) the country is in bad shape theme: divine right of kinds, order/disorder, great chaine of beingAll my pretty ones? Did you say 'all'? O hell-kite! All? What, all my pretty chickens and their dam At one fell swoop? (4.3)speaker? Macduff (when he learns his household was murdered) meaning/significance: shows his shock and grief, example of how Macbeth's cruetly is effecting other peopleOut, damned spot, out I say! (5.1)speaker? Lady Macbeth (when she is sleep walking) meaning/signifcance? shows her guilt and how she is haunted by it themes: supernatural, unnaturalUnnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds to their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets. More needs she the divine than the physician. (5.1)Speaker? Doctor meaning/significance? Lady Macduff needs divine help theme: sickness, unnatural (evil)And that which should accompany old age, As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have... (5.3)speaker? Macbeth meaning/significance? I'm sick at heart, shows he is reaping what he has sown, shows how he is realy missing the important things of life theme: evil, pride and ambitionShe should have died hereafter. There would have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow... Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a waking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. (5.5)speaker? Macbeth meaning/significance? (shows despaire after her death?) shows how his world view is very nihilistic (no heaven or hell, life is short and meaningless) theme: religion, evil, dying