It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, if it find heaven, must find it out tonight. | (Macbeth soliloquy) Macbeth has successfully arranged Banquo’s death. |
Naught’s had, all’s spent, where our desire is got without content. | (Lady Macbeth soliloquy) They have their goal but not the happiness they expected to come with it. |
We’ve scorched the snake, not killed it. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) They cannot stop their violence because the need for power will never end. |
Duncan is in his grave. After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Macbeth thinks maybe death is better than being in a position where power and life are always being threatened and you can trust no one. |
Things bad begun make themselves strong by ill. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) The only way to make this right is by continuing to attack. |
Oh treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly! Fly fly! | (Banquo to Fleance) Banquo died and Fleance lived; Banquo knows Macbeth sent the murderers |
The worm that’s fled hath nature that in time will venom breed, no teeth for the present. | (Macbeth to murderer) He knows Fleance is a threat to the throne. |
Thou canst not say that I did it; never shake thy gory locks at me. | (Macbeth to Ghost of Banquo) Macbeth claims that his use of the murderers makes him not guilty. He tells the ghost to leave. |
We are but young indeed. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that they are just beginners in crime/sin and must continue. |
Some holy angel fly to the court of England and unfold his message ere he come. | (Lennox to lord) Macduff has gone to England to get troops for overthrowing Macbeth. |
You lack the season of all natures, sleep. | (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) Because of your use of violence you are not able to sleep. |
There’s husbandry in heaven; their candles are all out. | (Banquo to Fleance) This time is very dark and something bad is going to happen. |
Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle toward my hand? | (Macbeth soliloquy) Sees a hallucination of dagger, but grabs it and goes to kill Duncan. |
Has he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done it. | (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) This is why Lady Macbeth couldn’t kill Duncan herself. First time we see her “soft side.” |
Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Macbeth won’t be able to sleep anymore because of what he has done. |
I’ll go no more; I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on’t again I dare not. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Lady Macbeth asked Macbeth to go wipe blood onto the grooms. He can’t bring himself to terms to what he just did. |
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Macbeth feels like nothing in the world could ever rid him of the guilt of killing Duncan. |
A little water clears us of this deed. How easy it is, then. | (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) Lady Macbeth finds the guilt easy to get rid of. |
Wake Duncan with thy knocking; I would though couldst. | (Macbeth to knocking at the door) Macbeth expresses guilt for this action and regrets killing Duncan. |
Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed time. | (Macbeth to Lennox, Donalbain, Lady Macbeth, Macduff, Ross, and Banquo) He wants others to think he is innocent. |
To show an unfelt sorry is an office which the false man does easy. | (Malcolm to Donalbain) Malcolm doesn’t trust the other men and suspects their pity is just a show. |
There’s daggers in men’s smiles; the near blood, the nearer bloody. | (Donalbain to Malcolm) Donalbain says the closer they are, the more horrible foes they can become. |
To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself. | (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Macbeth says he would rather not know about his crime yet it is a part of him. |
My hands are of your colour; but I shame to wear a heart so white. | (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) Lady Macbeth says that she has finished the plan but is not ashamed or afraid like her husband. |
Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell. | (Macbeth to self/bell ringing) Macbeth does not want Duncan to hear the bell and wake up for he is about to kill him. |
I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: To you they have show’d some truth. | (Banquo to Macbeth) Banquo admits he thinks of the Witches and their words since they rightly predicted Macbeth’s new title. |
(Witches to general audience) No real rules; anything goes | Fair is foul and foul is fair. |
(Lady Macbeth soliloquy) Asks the spirits to dehumanize or dewomanize her. She wants to be free of any sympathy or weakness. | Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here. |
(Macbeth to Lady Macbeth) Macbeth admits his heart has failed and now he will go because of the guilt that will follow. | False face must hide what false heart doth know. |
GOOD VS EVIL: Macbeth Quotes
August 17, 2019