“Fair is foul and foul is fair.Hover through the fog and filthy air” | a. Three witchesb. Eachotherc. Foreshadows tragedy |
“Go pronounce his present deathAnd with his former title greet Macbeth.” | a. Duncanb. Rossc. Gives Macbeth title at Thane of Cawdor |
“So foul and fair a day I have not seen” | a. Macbethb. Banquoc. Eerily echoes words of witches. Audience connects Macbeth with darkness |
“But tis strange;And oftentimes, to win us to our harm;The instruments of darkness tell us truths,win us with honest trifles, to betray usIn deepest consequence” | a. Banquob. Macbethc. Not trustworthy. Foreshadows evil and sin |
“Nothing in his lifeBecame him like the leaving it | a. Malcomb. King Duncanc. The Thine of Cawdor has done nothing good in his life that looked as good as the way he died |
“Stars hide your fire;Let not light see my black and deep desires | a. Macbethb. Himselfc. Shows ambition to be king, even if it means killing off the rightful king. Conceals evil thoughts |
“Yet I do fear thy nature;It is too full o’ the milk of human kindnessTo catch the nearest way” | a. Lady Macbethb. Audiencec. She does not think Macbeth is capable of murder |
“This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself into our gentle senses” | a. Duncanb. Duncan’s menc. Irony because he is in a lot of danger and does not know about it, yet believes the castle is a pleasant place |
“I have no spur prick the sides of my intent, but onlyvaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itselfAnd falls on the other” | a. Macbethb. Himselfc. Kill duncan because of ambition |
“Screw your courage to the stricking place,And we’ll not fail.” | a. Lady Macbethb. Macbethc. If Macbeth has courage, the plan will not fail |
“Bring forth men children only,For thy undaunted mettle should composeNothing but males” | a. Macbethb. Lady Macbethc. Macbeth is disgusted by Lady M and insults her by saying she is only capable of raising men, and not a girl. |
“Is this a dagger which I see before me,The handle toward my hand?” | a. Macbethb. Himselfc. Macbeth is going insane before he goes to kill King Duncan |
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?” | a. Macbethb. Himselfc. Even with all of the water in the ocean, the blood may wash away but the guilt will remain forever |
“There’s daggers in men’s smiles; the near in blood,The nearer bloody” | a. Donalbainb. Malcolmc. Our closest relatives are the ones most likely to murder us |
Macbeth Quotes
August 15, 2019