Macbeth quotes

• Stars hide your fire, let not light see my black and deep desires

  • ACT 1 SC 1
  • Macbeth's soliloquy revealing inner conflict
  • Dark desires - Vaulting ambition (Fatal flaw)
  • Light - Gods above, goes against Jacobean religious beliefs of ascension to heaven
  • Alliteration
  • Contrasting words to highlight confusion
• Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle towards my hand?

  • ACT 2 SC 1
  • psychological turmoil as he's about to commit regicide
  • hallucination of the dagger- inner struggle and influence from supernatural force
  • Rhetorical question- highlight inner turmoil and sense of foreboding
• Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player

  • poignant moment
  • realisation of inevitable end
  • Reflects on futility of life
  • faces the consequences of his actions
  • Personification "walking shadow"
• Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep

  • ACT 2 SC 2
  • "Sleep" state of innocence, peace and moral rest
  • Through committing regicide Macbeth has metaphorically killed his own ability to experience
  • "Sleep" reoccurring motif - symbolises innocence, clear conscious and the natural order
  • "Murdered" suggests disruption in order of divine rights of kings
• That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o'erleap

  Antithesis - "fall down" and "o'erleap" highlighting the two options

  "o'erleap" - conveys a desire to overcome obstacles swiftly and aggressively

  "Fall down" - indicates caution

  Modal verb - "must" inevitability of Macbeth's decision

  Metaphor - "Step" for an obstacle or barrier in Macbeth's path
• Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent beneath it 


  Metaphor- likening a person's demeanour to the appearance of a flower and their true nature of that of a serpent

  > harbouring sinister intentions

  Contrast- innocent and harmless connotations associated
• Brave Macbeth

  • Traits associated to heroism
  • Fighting honourably for his country (patriotic)
  • Contrasts with how it's later on associated as tyrannical
• Valour's minion


  Epitome of courage and chivalry

  "Valour" - ultimate courage in face of danger

  "Minion"- loyal follower
• Disdaining fortune


  Alludes to his later hubris (excessive pride) as he tries to dodge destiny
• "Unseamed him form the naves to th'chaps"

  • portrays Macbeth's tyrannical behaviour
• Disdaining fortune/ smoked with bloody execution


  > Righteous and honourable - patriotic

  > same behaviour displayed when he is viewed as a tyrannical and horrific
• Smoked with bloody execution


  Metaphor

  > implies violence in destructive force like fire

  > Smoke and blood, notify that recur throughout associated to Macbeth's guilt

  > Angels were granted flaming swords- Portrays Macbeth as a soldier for god
• She should've died hereafter 


  Modal verb- "should" expresses obligation and expectation. Macbeth implies Lady Macbeth's death was inevitable but inconvenient

  "Hereafter"- Lady Macbeth's death should have occurred later- conveys sense of regret

  Emotive tone- tone of resignation, sorrow and contemplation- reveals inner turmoil and anguish over the loss of his wife as well as own existential dread to face morality