| “By the pricking of my thumbs,Something wicked this way comes.” | 1) Second Witch2) Hecate3) This shows that the witch can tell when something wicked is coming. This angers Macbeth, thus showing that he is now wicked |
| “How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags?” | 1) Macbeth2) Witches3) Macbeth shows up to the witches wondering what they are up to |
| “I conjure you by that which you profess,” | 1) Macbeth2) Witches3) Macbeth is concerned by what the witches know |
| “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff.Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.” | 1) First Apparition2) Macbeth3) This is a clue to his future. Saying that Macbeth needs to watch out for Macduff |
| “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scornThe power of man, for none of woman bornShall harm Macbeth.” | 1) Second Apparition2) Macbeth3) This shows that anyone born from a woman can not harm Macbeth |
| “Macbeth shall never vanquished be untilGreat Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane HillShall come against him.” | 1) Third Apparition2) Macbeth3) Saying that Macbeth needs to have courage because Birnam Wood would have to travel the 12-mile distance to his castle |
| “I will be satisfied. Deny me this,And an eternal curse fall on you!” | 1) Macbeth2) Witches3) Saying that if he is not satisfied, he will put a curse on the witches |
| “From this momentThe very firstlings of my heart shall beThe firstlings of my hand.” | 1) Macbeth2) Himself3) He is saying that from now on, he will act on first sight, on his impulse |
| “I think our country sinks beneath the yoke.It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gashIs added to her wounds.” | 1) Malcolm2) Macduff3) This shows that their country is very hurt. And with the “king” Macbeth, it will stay hurt |
| “I grant him bloody,Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful,Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sinThat has a name.” | 1) Malcolm2) Macduff3) Malcolm is saying that Macbeth is a murderous person and that he is guilty of every sin known to man |
| “He has no children. All my pretty ones?Did you say all? O hell-kite! All?What, all my pretty chickens and their damAt one fell swoop?” | 1) Macduff2) Malcolm and Ross3) Macbeth doesn’t have kids but Macduff does. He is saying that all of his kids and wife died by one swoop of Macbeth METAPHOR |
Macbeth Quotes – Act 4
August 2, 2019