power

• barren sceptre // fruitless crown (a3, s1) 


   Shakespeare uses desolate imagery to reveal that behind the symbols of power there is no joy, safety or meaning. - After all, what is the point of having all this power, if he has no heir and he is afraid of being killed - This is the nature of power if it is taken by such foul means like regicide. The second metaphor of a 'barren sceptre' depicts the phallic imagery, blames his impotence, not LM's infertility, for not getting an heir. - real weakness, and the crack in his mind. - has no real remorse
• stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires (a1, s4) 


  macbeth speaks in rhyming couplets similar to the witches showing how they have power over him from the start, highlights his evil intentions
• dearest partner of greatness (a1, s5) 


  LM has power in their relationship
• LADY MACBETH: i may pour my spirits in thine ear (a1, s5) 


  Within her first soliloquy Lady Macbeth shows she intends on influencing/manipulating Macbeth into killing Duncan displaying her desire for power. Implying clearly that Lady Macbeth has a connection with the supernatural and foreshadows the taunts that Lady Macbeth will serve to Macbeth questioning his manhood
• whose murder yet is but fantastical (a1, s3)


  Regicide was one of the worst crimes to commit as it was a rebellion against the divine right of Kings. Macbeth is meddling with power that he should seriously leave alone.