Macbeth – Key Quotes and Analysis

Act 1, scene 1
“Fair is foul and foul is fair
Hover through the fog and filthy air” (3 witches)

This demonstrates the effect the witches will have on Macbeth’s actions
throughout the play. Example – they tell him he will be king, but don’t
tell him he will kill to achieve this. (He thinks the news is “fair” (good)
but it has a “foul” (evil) effect on him). They tell him no man born of
woman can kill him, but also tell him to “Beware Macduff”. The effect of
this warning is to lead him to kill Macduff’s family, which gives Macduff
a motive to kill Macbeth. Filthy conveys their corrupting influence; fog
that they hide the truth from Macbeth. They hover illustrating that their
influence permeates the actions of both Macbeth and his wife even when
they are not present.

Act 1, scene 2
“For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name)
Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish’d steel,
Which smoked with bloody execution.” (Captain in Duncan’s army)

The adjective “brave”, underlined by the parenthesis, emphasising to

what extent Macbeth’s actions illustrate this quality, conveys the extent
of Macbeth’s physical courage while fighting for Duncan. At the start he
is loyal and respected by fellow soldiers as well as king. He throws this
away later and becomes a traitor due to his fatal flaw of ambition, fuelled
by the witches’ prophecies. The extent of his almost superhuman physical
strength is made clear by the image of the sword “smoking” with the hot
blood of its many victims, enemies of the king, and blood at this point is
symbolic of bravery, not guilt as it will become later.

Act 1, Scene 3
“All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor” (second witch)
“All hail, Macbeth – that shalt be king hereafter!” (third witch)

Macbeth is firstly told he will be Thane of Cawdor and then that he will
be king. When he is given the title thane of Cawdor shortly afterwards
this convinces him that he will be declared king. The previous Thane of
Cawdor was a traitor and was executed for his treason – this foreshadows
Macbeth’s own fate.
“If good, why do I yield to that suggestion,
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair,
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs
Against the use of nature?” (Macbeth speaking his thoughts after
witches predictions)

The “If” indicates the internal conflict within Macbeth. His words show
that he is already imagining killing Duncan to become king even before
his wife persuades him to do so. Macbeth surrenders (yields) to the image
of murdering Duncan despite knowing it is evil (“against the use of
nature”). This shows his conscience will eventually be overcome by his
ambition. From the moment of the witches’ prophecies he has been
corrupted by his ambition.

Act 1, Scene 4
“The prince of Cumberland! – That is a step
On which I must fall down or else o’er leap,
For in my way it lies.” (Macbeth after finding out Duncan has declared
Malcolm to be next king)

Shakespeare employs a metaphor in which Macbeth views Malcolm as an

obstacle to be overcome (o’erleap). He already sees himself as on a
journey towards becoming king and he is becoming increasingly ruthless
in overcoming anyone who stands in his way. This leads to his eventual
acceptance of his wife’s plan to kill Duncan, blame the guards and frame
Malcolm to remove him as a potential future king.

Act 1, scene 5
“My dearest partner of greatness” (Macbeth in letter to his wife telling
of witches predictions)

This shows the closeness of couple at start of the play. He sees her as an
equal (partner), loves her (my dearest), wants her to share his ambitions
(greatness). This is important as she will use his trust in her to manipulate
him into overcoming his conscience to kill Duncan; ironically this will
destroy their relationship.

“It (his nature) is too full o’ the milk of human kindness to catch the
nearest way.” (Lady Macbeth about her husband)

She sees “the milk of human kindness” as a fault, not a strength. She sees
what is “fair” (kindness) as “foul”. She vows to make him overcome his
kindness and kill Duncan to become king quickly – “the nearest way”.
She is often referred to as the fourth witch as she mirrors their language
early in the play. At the end she is referred to as “fiend-like” – like a
demon or devil.

Act 1, Scene 7
“We will proceed no further in this business:
He hath honoured me of late; and I have bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,
Not cast aside so soon.” (Macbeth to his wife)

Macbeth appears to be determined to follow his conscience and

commands his wife: “We will proceed no further.” His reasons are that he
is basking in the king’s approval and the approval of others, their “golden
opinions”. He does not want to corrupt his reputation. However, by
telling his wife this at all, he seems to secretly wish her to persuade him
otherwise. Also what he doesn’t say is as important as what he does say.
He doesn’t say that killing the king would be morally wrong. Lady
Macbeth uses her opportunity to convince him otherwise.

“I have given suck, and know

How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have plucked the nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.”

“If we should fail?”

Lady Macbeth renounces her womanhood in shocking terms. The

violence of her language, contrasting the innocence of the child
describing its “boneless gums”, “smiling in her face”, with her violent
treatment of it: “dashing the brains out” shocks her husband and the
audience. She threatens to kill her own defenceless baby in order not to
break a promise to him. He is convinced by this as revealed by his
response. He no longer refuses to do it, but asks her what would happen if
they were caught. She has won and persuaded him.

“I am settled, and bend up

Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.
Away, and mock the time with fairest show:
False face must hide what false heart doth know.”
Macbeth’s final words in the scene show that he has been convinced. His
final words mirror the witches. He will disguise the truth in order to
achieve his purpose. “Foul” intentions will be hidden behind a “fair”
pretence. He will lure Duncan towards his death.

Act 2
Act 2, Scene 1
“Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand?
Come, let me clutch thee” (Macbeth speaking his thoughts)

The dagger symbolises the act of murdering Duncan. It is either a

hallucination or witchcraft. It gives him the encouragement to go ahead
with the murder. The question, however, shows his doubt. His decision to
take it indicates his decision is made.

Act 2, Scene 2
“Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done’t.” (Lady Macbeth as she waits to
find out if Macbeth has killed Duncan)

This shows that she is a hypocrite – she can’t do it herself. It also hints at
the guilt she’ll feel later.

Act 2, scene 2
“Give me the daggers!” (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth)

Exclamation shows her anger at Macbeth taking the daggers away instead
of planting them on the guards. The command shows that she takes
control and helps him cover up the crime.

“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood from my hand?”
(Macbeth to his wife)

Hyperbole. Blood symbolises his guilt at having killed Duncan.

Rhetorical question reveals that he feels he can never escape from the
guilt and consequences. Blood will be used as a recurring symbol of guilt
throughout the play for both Macbeth and his wife.

Act 2, scene 3
“O yet I do repent of my fury that I did kill them.” (Duncan’s
guards) (Macbeth to Macduff)
“Wherefore did you so?” (Macduff to Macbeth)
Macbeth tries to cover up his murder of Duncan by having Macduff
discover the body. After Macduff does so Macbeth kills the guards to
prevent them protesting their innocence. Macduff asking why Macbeth
killed the guards reveals that he suspects Macbeth even at this stage. This
leads to Macbeth’s murder of his family later.

Act 3
Act 3, scene 1
“Our fears in Banquo stick deep…
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!” (Macbeth speaking
his thoughts)

This reveals his need to kill Banquo to make himself safe and to kill
Fleance. His repetition of “kings” referring to Banquo’s children indicates
his inability to accept the witches’ prophecy. It shows how paranoid he
has become and how evil, killing a close friend and a young boy for
personal gain and to satisfy his growing ambition and paranoia.

Act 3, scene 2
“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck.” (Macbeth to his wife)

He hides from her his plans to kill Banquo and Fleance. He still calls her
“dearest” to show his love but, in contrast with earlier in the play, he does
not confide in her about how he plans to kill Banquo or need her to
persuade him to act. This emphasises that they are growing apart.

Act 3, scene 4
“Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect,
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,
As broad and general as the casing air:
But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confined, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears.” (Macbeth to murderers)

He reveals his panic at Fleance’s survival. By comparing himself to

having been as “whole as marble, founded as rock” and “the casing air”
when he thought the threat from Fleance had gone he reveals that he had
felt his position as unshakeable and that nothing could hurt him. By
comparing his sense of security to elemental forces he emphasises how
untouchable he felt. Now he lists all the ways in which he feels the world
is closing in using metaphors of imprisonment. Rather than having the
freedom of the air, he has the claustrophobia of his fear; he feels trapped
in his paranoia and this signals his descent into madness.

“Thou canst not say I did it;

Never shake thy gory locks at me!” (Macbeth to Banquo’s ghost)

He speaks to an invisible figure in front of the other thanes. He denies

some kind of crime, which makes clear his growing paranoia and loss of
control. He is losing his ability to disguise his crimes. He sees Banquo
shaking his blood sodden head, the blood symbolising both Banquo’s
violent death and the guilt that Macbeth can no longer wash away.

“Pray you keep seat. The fit is momentary;

Upon a thought he will again be well…” (Lady Macbeth to the Thanes)

“Are you a man?” (Aside to Macbeth)

Lady Macbeth still attempts to cover up Macbeth’s crimes, as she did
after his killing of Duncan, when she returned the daggers and fainted
when Macduff questioned Macbeth’s killing of the guards, but, this time,
her attempts fail. She attempts to restore her husband to sanity by
questioning his manhood as she did at the start of the play; however this
time she fails. This indicates her lack of control over him and the
deterioration of their relationship.

“It will have blood they say, blood will have blood:
Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak.”(Macbeth’s
inner thoughts)

Macbeth reveals his growing panic and realisation that his crimes are
coming back to haunt him. The reference to trees speaking foreshadows
Birnam Wood moving up High Dunsinane hill later in the play, signalling
Macbeth’s downfall. Nature itself is turning upon him.

“How sayst thou that Macduff denies his person

At our great bidding?” (Macbeth)

Macbeth’s question in its wording indicates his anger at Macduff’s

absence from the banquet which he views as an insult and challenge to
his authority. Macduff “denies his person” – refuses to attend
deliberately. Macbeth refers to his “great bidding” meaning his authority
as a king and the depth of his desire to see Macduff. His anger at Macduff
fuels his paranoia and makes Macduff and his family his next target. It is
this which will ultimately seal his fate.
“I will tomorrow
(And betimes I will) to the weird sisters:
More shall I speak; for now I am bent to know,
By the worst means, the worst; for mine own good,
All causes shall give way. I am blood
Stepp’d in so far that should I wade no more,
That returning were as tedious as go o’er.” (Macbeth)

Macbeth’s decision to return to the witches reveals his distance from his
wife. He would not listen to her earlier in the scene but returns to the
witches. This indicates his lack of awareness at how the witches have
caused his problems. He is willing to risk anything; repetition of the
“worst” emphasises his desperation. The metaphor of comparing his
situation through wading through a sea of blood and being unable to
return to the bank indicates that he cannot change course. He is
determined to continue to kill to defend what he has gained. Where Lady
Macbeth will seek to escape her guilt through suicide, her husband will
continue on his path of relentless destruction.

Act 4
Act 4, scene 1
“Beware Macduff!” - (armoured head speaks)

Witches’ apparition causes Macbeth to send Macduff a warning. He kills

Macduff’s wife and family and therefore gives Macduff a reason to kill
him!

“Laugh to scorn the power of man - for none of woman born shall
harm Macbeth.” - (bloodstained child speaks.)

The clue is in the child, covered in blood as it is dragged out of its

mother’s womb, not born naturally “of woman”. The witches’ apparition
makes Macbeth think he can’t be killed. They mislead him.

“Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until

Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him.” - (child wearing crown speaks.)

The child represents both Malcolm and Fleance who will become kings in
future. The words of the prophecy give Macbeth a false sense of security.
Macbeth thinks the wood walking is impossible. Again he is manipulated.
“The castle of Macduff I will surprise:
Seize upon Fife - give to the edge o’the sword
His wife, his babes and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line.” - (Macbeth to himself.)

The anger of Macbeth shown in the climactic list and the violence of the
verbs used - he wants to wipe out every part of Macduff’s family as
revenge for him supporting Malcolm. His decision to act against Macduff
despite apparently believing that he cannot be killed shows how cruel
Macbeth has become. Macduff’s family are not a direct threat – he kills
them out of spite and malice.

Act 4, scene 3
“Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself.
Within my sword’s length set him.” (Macduff to Malcolm) having
learned of the murder of his wife and family. Sees Macbeth as devil.
Vows bloody revenge!

Act 5
Act 5, scene 1
“Out damned spot!..
The thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now? - What, will these
hands ne’er be clean?” (Lady Macbeth relives the murders as she
sleepwalks).

The blood she attempts to wash from her hands symbolises her guilt at
her role in the murders, not just that of Duncan, but all of the murders
committed by her hussband. She has gone mad. She mentions Lady
Macduff’s murder, perhaps as Macduff’s wife is a fellow mother. She has
become the opposite of her cruel words earlier, where she rejects her own
role as mother to persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan. Her descent into
madness due to her overwhelming guilt prepares us for her suicide.

Act 5, scene 5
“She should have died hereafter;
There would have been time for such a word.” (Macbeth learning of
his wife’s suicide)
His reaction emphasises the breakdown in their relationship. His wife
dies offstage and he can’t find time to grieve for her as he is fending off
the English armies. At the start they were “partners in greatness” but are
now separated in facing the consequences of their actions and in facing
their deaths.

Act 5, scene 8
“Macduff was from his mother’s womb
Untimely ripped!” (Macduff telling Macbeth that he was not “born of
woman”)

The triumph in his tone is conveyed in the exclamation and the climactic
nature of the sentence.

“Yet I will try the last.” (Macbeth to Macduff just before he is killed)

Knows he will be killed “Yet” fights on anyway, like the brave Macbeth
at the start: “disdaining fortune.” He regains some of his honour in the
nature of his death, but does not gain our sympathy due to his monstrous
acts.

“dead butcher and fiend-like queen” (Malcolm’s final verdict on

Macbeth and his wife.)

“Butcher” - extent of violence and cruelty, treating humans like animals.

“Fiend-like” - devilish, connection to witches as established throughout.