Key quotations

• What is a quotation to describe the nature of Macbeth’s crown?

  “Golden round”- shows that ambition is the root to superficial prosperity, “golden” = nobility, “round” = an infinite influence on macbeths life as it is a never ending cycle so ambition is saturated
• “Look like th’ innocent flower but be the serpent under’t”- A1 S5: theme of appearance vs reality, first viewing of lady macbeth, shows her initial power
• “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t”- first sign of weakness Lady Macbeth exhibits, possible consequence of calling on spirits. Change in character: slipping power
• “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck Till thou applauded the deed”- changing character of Macbeth; speaking down to her. He has become evil himself and doesn’t need to be persuaded. Corrupted by the influence of the witches
• “Is this a dagger which I see before me”- A2 S1. Psychological effects of the guilt ridden macbeth. Hallucinations to show weakness perhaps to foreshadow his ultimate loss of control- glimpse into his future. Or perhaps real daggers formed by supernatural.
• “Spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here”- sacrifice femininity to become more powerful. defying gender roles. Also defying contextual attitude to supernatural- could be sentenced to death for witchcraft act of 1563
• “O full of scorpions is my mind, dear”- A3 S2 Guilt is psychologically breaking Macbeth
• “A cry of women within“- stage directions. Lady Macbeth dies off stage due to her lack of control, can’t handle the guilt and shame
• “So foul and fair a day, I have not seen”- macbeth mirroring language used by the witches shows he is not so innocent but evil like the witches
• “The instruments of darkness tell us truths”- Banquo
• “Vaulting ambition which overleaps itself“- Macbeth, arrogance and hubris
• “Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen”- Macduff. Death is already upon them- spiritual torment- reflective of motif of hell