macbeth

• Brave Macbeth


  The Captain recognises Macbeth's bravery in battle
• Unseamed him from the nave to the chaps


  The Captain explains that Macbeth was violent in battle by describing how he stripped the enemy of his skin
• Fix'd his head upon our battlements


  The Captain explains that Macbeth decapitated the enemy and placed it on the battlefield to act as a warning; this could be seen as foreshadowing Macbeth's death later on.
• O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman


  The King recognises Macbeth's bravery
• They meant to bathe in reeking wounds


  The Captain explains how Macbeth and Banquo were determined to succeed in the fight no matter how bloody it would be.
• So fair and foul a day I have not seen


  Macbeth mirrors the Witches' words by discussing how contradictory the day has been
• All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis / Cawdor / King


  The Witches greet Macbeth with predictions about what will be.
• Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?


  Macbeth doesn't believe he has been given the new title and that the Witches' prophecies have come true
• This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good


  Macbeth doesn't know what to think about the fact that the Witches' prophecies have come true; he doesn't think any good will come of it.
• My dearest partner of greatness


  In a letter to his wife, Macbeth recognises her power in their relationship
• Bloody instructions return To plague th'inventor


  Macbeth is worried that the regicide will come back to haunt him
• I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition


  Macbeth knows that there is no real reason to kill King Duncan other than his own selfish ambition
• Golden opinions


  Macbeth has been given lots of new honours that should be celebrated and not cast aside
• Is this a dagger which I see before me


  Macbeth hallucinates a dagger - this is the first sign that he is susceptible to supernatural misgivings
• Fatal vision


  Macbeth recognises that what he sees will be fatal. There is a double meaning here; not only is it a dagger that will cause harm, it could also be a symbol of Macbeth's downfall
• Art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain


  Macbeth knows that what he is seeing isn't real (he hasn't gone mad) but he questions why it has arrived.
• I could not say Amen


  Regicide goes against God so he has committed the ultimate sin
• Macbeth does murder sleep


  Regicide has meant that Macbeth will no longer sleep soundly again.
• Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?


  Macbeth does not believe there is enough water in the ocean to clean the blood from his hands
• Fail not our feast


  Macbeth tells Banquo not to fail coming to the celebratory dinner, but he is about to kill him.
• Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown


  Macbeth is angry at the Witches for giving him an empty promise - he doesn't think anything will come of him becoming king if his children can't also be royalty.
• We have scorch'd the snake, not killed it


  Macbeth tells LM that they haven't finished the job that they set out to do.
• O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!


  Macbeth admits that his mind is full of evil, poisonous imagery
• Be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck


  Macbeth doesn't want to let LM in on his plan to kill Banquo. Note how his language has changed from "dearest partner" to "dear wife" to "dearest chuck" showing his changing perception of her.
• I am cabined, cribbed, confined


  Macbeth feels trapped by his own guilt
• She should have died hereafter


  This is ambiguous; it could mean that he is pleased she is dead or that it was inevitable she would die in the battle anyway
• Out, out brief candle


  Macbeth wants the candle of life to blow out; he is giving up