Macbeth Quotes

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Created by
Daya

Cards (20)

  • EXPOSTION
    "carved out his passage"-violent imagery 

    "carved"-non human- understanding that human life=little value.
    Later pursuit of kingship through violent methods.
  • Exposition
    "unseam'd him"- violent imagery

    Dehumanisation of victims.
    foreshadows later mental state as a result of violence-psychological state unravels.
  • RISING ACTION
    "vaulting ambition"- Personification
    Recognition of hamartia.
    Beginning of process-growth of H/consuming him.
    Contributes to a sense of anagnorisis.
  • Rising action
    "kingsman...hosts...virtues...angels"- listing

    -admiration of KD qualities- in stark contrast to Macbeth.
    -Internally conflicted-recognises-his actions lack justification.
    -Breaks rules of hospitality- considers killing a guest- immorality.
  • Rising action
    "Dagger"- symbolism
    murder/regicide/cue for action
    Represents-lack of control-see but not touch illogical thought processes - hallucinating- hamartia overrides logic.
    Dagger being symbolic of sacrifice and betrayal-cain and abel-Bible.
    soliloquy: Start- Complex sentences and rhetorical question=anxiety/confusion.
    Later in the soliloquy- shift- shorter sentences=Macbeth-more resolute - makes decision to commit regicide.
  • Falling action
    "blood"-motif

    symbolic of guilt and sin - pontius pilate.
    Physical stain=psychological stain.
    Macbeth- weakness of character- LM reaction(a little clears us)-strength of character- Shakespeare playing with natural order.
    Guilt-grows-eventually-leads to madness.
  • Falling action
    "knocking"-stage directions

    Mimics Macbeth's growing unease.
    sense of paranoia.
    internal suffering- criteria tragic hero.
    mental instability and suffering.
  • Falling action
    "scotch'd the snake"-animal imagery.

    Paranoia-danger everywhere-leads to us considering Macbeth as a tyrannical dictator.
    Reptile-cold-blooded-reveal Macbeth's nature.
    Hamartia in ascendency-takes full control of tragic hero.
  • Falling action
    "scorpions"-animal imagery

    Connotations of poison-Hamartia as a poison-growing/spreading/consuming.
    Erosion of logical thinking-lack of self-control.
    Tragic hero-internal suffering.
  • Falling action
    "gory...locks...shadow!"-imagery

    "shadow"-frightening, looming - guilt follows-paranoia.
    Ghost-unstoppable force-cannot be eradicated.
    Exclamatory-attempt to regain control- impact of weak morals.
    Loss of strength and bravery.
    Tragic hero-internal suffering.
  • Catastrophe
    "devil damn...black...cream"- contrast

    Downfall-admired-by end:cursed.
    Sin: no redemption for tragic heros - mortal sin committed-no forgiveness.
    Deceptiveness of appearances:
    Exterior- M appears innocent - internally corruption and immorality.
  • Restored order
    "butcher"- metaphor

    Ironic: start-praised for violence. end-criticised for his brutality.
    journey-character;violence for personal gain.
    Butcher: meat- murders-reinforces idea tyrannical rulers- view people as expendable.
  • Lady macbeth - Rising action
    "raven"- animal imagery

    Role-messenger-foreshadowing bad deeds.
    Carrion eating bird-death.
    soliloquy=golden opportunity to seize power.
  • Lady macbeth-rising action
    "milk for gall"-contrast

    Milk=life affirming substance- associated with babies - links to innocence and purity-represents feminine traits.
    Contrast = LM's rejection of feminine traits and her challenging society's norms and expectations.
    Womanhood impedes - renunciation of feminine traits.
    Woman- 1600's excluded from social, political and economic life- quest for power.
  • Lady macbeth - rising action
    "serpent"- animal imagery

    Reptile-cold-blooded-represents LM's lack of emotions.
    Serpent= evil/devil - Genesis (Bible-Adam and Eve).
    Temptation of Adam- mirrors the process Macbeth will go through-Eve's actions mirror the actions of Lady macbeth.
  • Lady macbeth- falling action
    "Blood/water clears us"-motif

    symbolic of guilt and sin - pontius pilate.Physical stain=psychological stain.Macbeth- weakness of character- LM reaction(a little clears us)-strength of character- Shakespeare playing with natural order.
    Following regicide- LM responds from a position of mental strength.
    Guilt-grows-eventually-leads to madness.
  • Lady macbeth- Falling action
    "Are you a man?/unmann'd in folly? - Repetition

    LM's power and intelligence. Preys/targets Macbeth's weaknesses and insecurities.
    Masculinity - alters its meaning to fit purpose.
    provokes him into action- take control.
    Dominance.
  • Lady macbeth - Catastrophe
    "Out, damned spot! - imperative 

    Guilt overpowering her- psychological impact of committing regicide-sin.
    Domineering and dominant-naivety-idea that all would be well has played out false.
    Internal struggle-Tragic hero suffers internally + externally.
    Shares some criteria of TH.
    Victim-suffering-powerless woman in a patriarchal society.
  • Lady macbeth - Restored order
    "fiend-like queen" - imagery

    Evil nature.
    Start/end-references supernatural-highlight movement away from goodness and morality-it allows the audience to appreciate the nature of the mortal sin she has committed.(no forgiveness).
    Femme fatale (dangerous woman)-powerful woman in 1600's unnatural/viewed with suspicion.
  • Context:
    Regicide.
    The divine right of kings.Biblical allusions(Adam and Eve , Cain and Abel, Pontius pilate).
    The natural order.
    Women in the 1600's