macbeth

• "so foul and fair a day I have not seen" A1S3


  -Macbeth shows signs of influence, which subtly, but immediately links his character to evil

  -His initial words in the play echo the Witches' paradox "fair is foul and foul is fair", shows he's becoming a mouthpiece for witches' evil

  -Hints at the destructive impact he will have on Scotland

  -The lexis on "not seen" implies blindness or a loss of vision. This could parallel how Macbeth is blinded by their prophecies, leading him to lose sight of reality
• "Valours minion" A1S2


  -Suggests macbeth strongly abides to codes of honour/ courage, as he's almost like a slave to valour - his bravery + positive ambition guides him to victory in battle

  -Elevates Macbeth's heroism to almost mythical levels

  -"minion" implies a loyal follower. This suggest macbeth can be trusted as he will always show courage in battle, and is dedicated to victory in the face of defeat. He's a saving grace for Scotland

  -The noun "minion" foreshadows his susceptibility to manipulation and how he will soon become a puppet of the witches
• "smok'd with bloody execution" A1S2


  -suggests he's a relentless force in battle, so skilled that his sword didnt have time to cool

  -"smok'd" connotes to heat and hell, foreshadowing evil

  -Implies violence is a destructive force - blood is a motif for guilt

  -Angles + other representatives of God were granted flaming swords. This portrays Macbeth as a soldier of god, suggesting he fights on the side of good and has god's blessing.

  Shakespeare shows how highly respected and admired Macbeth was by his peers
• "Stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires" A1S4


  -Adjective "deep" indicates the intensity and strength of his ambition ad desire for power

  -Juxtaposing motifs of dark and light reveal the divide between Macbeth's intentions and desire to hide his immorality- wants his malicious desires and secret yearning for the throne to remain covered in darkness (by asking the stars)- he knows would be willing to do anything, including murdering duncan, the rightful king, to achieve his ambitions
• "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only my vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself and falls" A1S7


  -Shakespeare uses zoomorphism, likening Macbeths ambition to a horse that he cannot control - he detaches himself.

  -Verb "o'erleaps" reveals a constant desire for v]more, foreshadowing that ambition will drive Macbeth's downfall

  -Spurs are something harmful used to control horses- his ambition remains unchecked, guiding him to regicide

  -Structurally this is placed in a significant place: after Macbeth says this, Lady Macbeth enters- is she the spur?
• "Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle towards my hand?" A2S1


  -Soliloquy - Shakespeare gives audience insight into mental turmoil of Macbeth

  -Rhetorical question - internal conflict

  -"handle towards my hand" - rids himself of responsibility of murder, as if it were offered or forced upon him. He acknowledges the immorality of his actions, yet ambition prevails - foreshadows madness and tyranny - ends up seeing senseless murders as paramount for stability

  -Alludes to LM calling on spirits - almost transferring blame of regicide to the daggers
• "His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls."
A4S1


  -The murders are emblematic of excessive bloodthirst. Originally, they presented no threat, yet he is now on an unstoppable trajectory of murder.

  -Here, Macbeth takes on the Godly role of deciding who has the right to live.

  -Alludes to the slaughter of the innocence - Macbeth is so paranoid and insecure that he kills everyone to try maintain his power - no sense of humanity left.
• "Tell me" "Call em"
A4S1


  -Macbeth speaks with imperative phrases - driven by his greed and lust for power.

  -He intentionally approaches the witches highlighting how he has embraced his new tyrannical rule.

  -Emphasises his hubris, as it is almost as if he believes he is so powerful, that he has control and influence over the supernatural.
• "Eternal curse"
A4S1


  -Here Macbeth is threatening the witches. This is ironic as we have seen their overt supernatural power, and he clearly believes he can supersede this.

  -His ego is prevalent as the witches' ambiguous apparitions provide him with an ephemeral sense of security and invincibility.
• "Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck."
A3S2


  -Imperative verb - Macbeth is more powerful, does not need guidance and does not treat LM as an equal

  -Loving expression - Loves LM despite the fact that he is gradually becoming less human and more evil, but it's condescending - reminds that she is his wife and not equal - no need to know every detail of his plans

  -Macbeth has taken on a traditional role of man in marriage as a leader and wants Lady Macbeth to be subordinate

  -Ironic that Macbeth overpowers LM through feminine epithets belittling her, as she previously did to his
• "I am in blood"
 A3S4


  -Previously, the blood - a motif for guilt and consequences - was merely on his hands, yet now it has enrobed his entire body, and by extension, his entire sense of being.

  -He admits that he cannot return to a position of virtue or innocence, so it is easier for him to continue on a murderous path.

  -Macbeth's response to fear and guilt has transitioned from being horrified to further indulging in heinous acts - murder has become his means of self preservation.
• "Make our faces vizards to our hearts"
A3S2


  -Power dynamic shifts - Macbeth echoes former sentiments of LM, suggesting he extrapolated her evil - reminisces "Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under't"

  -Characterises Macbeth as marionette of evil, he echoes the witches' lexis and his wife

  -Macbeth is growing bloodthirsty and tyrannical but he is fragile and malleable as a character - fails to demonstrate qualities of a respectable king - epitomising the truth - he disrupted natural order

  -Appearance vs reality suggests they should wear masks to conceal true evil nature
• "O full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife"
A3S2


  -Scorpions are poisonous, compounded with "full", it represents how Macbeth's ambition poisoned his mind - he is consequently plagued by guilt and remorse

  -Metaphor of a creature festering in his mind shows that his tyrannical nature has been omnipotent - resembles more of a savage creature than a moral human

  -Scorpions have a great ability to protect themselves - but harm others highlighting Macbeth's corrupt nature. Also, they have poor eyesight, metaphorically alluding to Macbeth, who can't see the consequences of usurping the throne
• macbeth “so foul and fair a day I have not seen”
• macbeth “valours minion”
• macbeth “smok’d with bloody execution”
• macbeth “stars hide you fires, let not light see my black and deep desires”
• macbeth “i have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only my vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls”
• macbeth “is this a dagger which i see before me, the handle towards my hand”
• macbeth “his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls”
• macbeth “tell me” “call em”
• macbeth “eternal curse”
• macbeth “be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck”
• macbeth “i am in blood”
• macbeth “make out faces vizards to our hearts”
• macbeth “ O full of scorpions in my mind, dear wife”