Macbeth Quotes

• "Out damned spot! Out I say!" - Lady Macbeth (Guilt)

  This moment reveals her psychological decline, dramatising the consequences of her ambition, moral transgression and the human conscience. This underscores the theme of guilt as a force that corroded the soul and disrupts the natural order.
• "Will all Neptune's oceans wash this blood clean from my hands?" - Macbeth(Guilt)

  The use of hyperbole underscores how deeply his guilt has consumed him, making it seem insurmountable. It suggests no amount of water could ever erase the stain of his actions. The word "blood" could symbolise both the physical and psychological stain on Macbeth's conscience.
• "Is this a dagger I see before me?" - Macbeth(Guilt)

  Encapsulates Macbeth's pre-murder guilt and foreshadows the psychological torment he will endure. It illustrates how guilt begins to manifest even before the crime is committed setting the stage for his descent into madness.
• "Is this a dagger I see before me?" - Macbeth (Supernatural)

  • The dagger could be seen as a psychological premonition encouraging Macbeth to commit regicide.
  • Although it is meant to encourage the murder of Duncan, it also shows the audience what Macbeth is about to do is evil.
  • Shakespeare uses the supernatural to guide the audience to show what evil is.
• "Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here." - Lady Macbeth (Supernatural)

  The use of imperatives "come" and "unsex" suggests that she believes she has control over said spirits labelling her as an evil character who wants supernatural beings to aid her cause.
• "Fair is foul and foul is fair." - Three Witches (Supernatural)

  • This is the first indication that things may not always be as they appear. Macbeth appears as a heroic and courageous character, but when tempted by power, he begins to develop villainous and selfish intentions.
  • This quotes is paradoxical meaning what's fair to man is foul to the witches, and what's foul to man is fair to the witches
• "Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here" - Lady Macbeth (Ambition)

  • Lady Macbeth is calling upon spirits that tend on her evil thoughts to come forth and fill her body with manly cruelty.
  • The use of the word "mortal" meaning deadly, shows she wishes for the spirits to instil in her murderous ideas.
• "Art not without ambition, but without illness should attend it" - Lady Macbeth (Ambition)

  • Lady Macbeth believes her husband is too softhearted and isn't capable of doing what must be done for him to become king.
  • The phrase "illness should attend it" shows Macbeth that without sacrifice you cannot achieve greatness.
• ""Let not light see my black and deep desires" - Macbeth (Ambition)

  • The duality between light and dark is a symbol for the conflict Macbeth faces between his conscience and his ambition.
  • The phrase "Let not light see" shows his means of hiding his true desires deep within him.