Macbeth

• "O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!"

  Act 3, Macbeth, Guilt


  scorpions are poisonous, representing how Macbeth's ambition has poisoned his mind- he is consequentlt plagued by guilt and remorse. As it is "full" it highlights how he has been completely engulfed with guilt and mercy. Moreover, the metaphor of a creature festering in his mind shows that his tyrannical nature has been so omnipotent, he now resembles more of a savage creature than a moral human
• his "face is "a book where men may read strange matters"

  Act 1, Lady Macbeth, Gender

  Mocks the candidness (honest and sincere) of his expression, portrays Macbeth as weak and vulnerable- these were qualities which fail to align with the ideal masculine archetype of the era
• "so foul and fair a day I have not seen"

  Act 1, Macbeth, Supernatural

  Echo the Witche's paradox- slowly becoming a mouthpiece for the Witches' evil, he is a vessel for their misconduct
• "Stars, hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires"

  Act 1, Macbeth, Appearance vs reality

  Paradoxes continue to plague his speech with "black" and "fire" juxtaposing one another. Fire creates irreversible damage, foreshadowing how his duplicitous (two-faced) facade will create irreversible damage
• "His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls"

  Act 4, Macbeth, Violence

  Their murders are emblematic of Macbeth's excessive bloodthirsty, they presented no threat yet he is now on an unstoppable trajectory of murder. Macbeth takes on the Godly role of deciding who has the right to live.