ambition and power

• "My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,

  Shakes so my single state of man"

  Macbeth -He is in a moral battle with his ambition and states it's impacting his mental health.
• "Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair,

  And make my seated heart knock at my ribs"


  Macbeth thinks the thought of murdering Duncan is terrifying. He's still in a moral battle.
• " I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition"


  Macbeth cannot force himself to evil things. It's his ambition that encourages action.
• "Thou wouldst be great

  Art not without ambition, but without

  The illness should attend it"


  Lady Macbeth speaks these lines as she reflects on her husband's character. She knows that Macbeth is capable of ambitious dreams, but she thinks that he is unwilling to display the ruthless behavior necessary to achieve those dreams
• "Stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires."


  Macbeth admits to always of had some repressed emotion to overtake the king. He seems regretful of these feelings.
• "That is a step on which I must fall down, o else o'er leap, for in my ay it lies."


  Macbeth realizes what he will have to do if he wishes to become king.
• Macbeth's mind turns straight to murder

  "My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical"
• Banquo sees how ambition has entranced Macbeth

  "Look how our partner's rapt"