Macbeth

• Act 1, Scene 4: 'Stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires'


  Presents his initial innocence and loyalty, but also how the seeds of ambition have already been planted by the witches.

  Inner conflict shown by personification in 'stars hide' showing he is ashamed to want more power.

  Juxtaposition of 'light' and 'black' shows he hasn't been completely corrupted by ambition but wants to explore it.

  Context: Goes against Divine right of Kings as witches were seen as terrible so Macbeth is making a fatal error from the very beginning.
• Act 1, Scene 7: 'To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition which, o'erleaps itself'


  Macbeth recognises that he has absolutely no reason to go ahead with murdering Duncan other than his own ambition to become king.

  Shows he still has a conscience and is not completely corrupted.
• Act 2, Scene 1: 'Is this a dagger I see before me?'


  Macbeth sees a floating dagger, the audience is similarly unsure as to wether this is spell cast by the witches or Macbeth going insane.

  The bloody dagger is symbolic of guilt, which is a recurring theme in the play, as result of the mental pressures from murder.

  Audience witnesses him going down a dark path as a result of unchecked ambition.
• Act 3, Scene 4: 'Never shake thy gory locks at me'


  Adjective 'gory' signifies ghost covered in blood who represents Banquo.

  This is similar to Macbeth's last hallucination in Act 2.

  Shows how Macbeth cannot escape the guilt of murder despite not actually killing Banquo himself.

  The description of blood represents guilt which is a recurring theme.
• Act 5, Scene 7: 'They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly'


  Metaphor describes Macbeth as an animal who is tied up and being attacked.

  Shows he sees himself as a victim, signifying that he is failing to acknowledge the horrific actions that he has committed that have led him to this point.

  Context: Reference to Divine Right of Kings as Macbeth was not designated ruler selected by God. His reign is corrupted.