| Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Act IV, Scene 1 | Speaker: MacbethMotif: Appearance vs. realityContext: Macbeth is looking at the dagger in his hand and considering the act of killing Duncan. |
| Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done it. Act IV, Scene 2 | Speaker: Lady MacbethMotif: SleepContext: Lady Macbeth talks very boldly about killing Duncan, but chickens out and would rather Macbeth do it. |
| Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more! Act IV, Scene 2 | Speaker: Macbeth Motif: SleepContext: macbeth says that he hears a voice after killing Duncan–connects to the curse from the with to the sailor earlier. |
| Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?Act IV, Scene 2 | Speaker: Macbeth Motif: Appearance vs RealityContext: Even though he has washed the blood from his hands, he cannot wash away the crime. |
| There’s daggers in men’s smiles.Act IV, Scene 3 | Speaker: DonnelbainMotif: Appearance vs reality; bloodContext: Donnelbain and Malcolm fear for their lives because they are suspicious of Macbeth. |
| I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.Act IV, Scene 2 | Speaker: Lady MacbethMotif: AnimalsContext: The Animals are reacting to the death of Duncan–representing how people will react when they find out. |
| I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. Here it not, Duncan; for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell.Act IV, Scene 1 | Speaker: MacbethMotif: Fate vs. free willContext: Macbeth finally gets the resolve to commit the murder of king Duncan. |
| But wherefore could not I pronounce ‘Amen”? I had most need of blessing, and ‘Amen’ stuck in my throat.Act IV, Scene 2 | Speaker: MacbethMotif: Appearance vs. realityContext: Would like redemption, but it will not come. |
| Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst?Act IV, Scene 2 | Speaker: MacbethMotif: SleepContext: Macbeth is struggling to cope with what he did. |
| A little water clears us of this deed.Act IV, Scene 2 | Speaker: Lady MacbethMotif: BloodContext: No amount of effort can remove the guilt and sin of killing Duncan. |
| Tis unnatural, even like the deed that’s done.Act IV, Scene 4 | Speaker: Old ManMotif: Fate vs free will Context: the murder is an act against nature–unnatural |
| They were suborn’d. Malcolm and Donalbain, the king’s two sons, are stol’n away and fled, which put upon them suspicion of the deed.Act IV, Scene 4 | Speaker: MacduffMotif: appearance v realityContext: Duncan’s sons are being blamed for death of Duncan. |
| To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself.Act IV, Scene 2 | Speaker: macbeth Motif: fate v free willContext: Macbeth and Lady macbeth are talking about the deed. |
| Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, lamentings heard i’th air, strange screams of death,And prophesying with accents terrible Of dire combustion and confused eventsNew hatched to th’ woeful time: the obscure birdClamored the livelong night. Some say, the earth was feverous and did shake.Act IV, Scene 3 | Speaker: LennoxMotif: weather, animalsContext:It was a rough night to get rest |
Macbeth: Act IV Quotes
September 14, 2019