| Fair is foul, and foul is fair. (S1, L 10) | The witches said this. Scotland is currently in battle. This means what’s good is bad & what’s bad is good. Appearance vs. reality. Those that appear good may not be good & those that appear bad may not bad. This warning is given right at the beginning. (Alliteration & Paradox) |
| What, can the devil speak true? (S3, L 107) | Banquo says this to Macbeth. The witches just gave both Banquo & Macbeth prophecies & Banquo is suspicious, while Macbeth is considering what the witches said. Banquo is on the fence & is saying that he doesn’t think what the witches are saying is safe to follow, plus they’re witches & witches are usually evil. |
| If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me,/ Without my stir. (S3, Ls 143-144) | Macbeth says this in his aside. This shows how he is sort of leaning toward the prophecies given to him by the witches |
| We will establish our estate upon Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland (S4, Ls 37-39) | King Duncan says this. Duncan is saying that his son Malcolm is going to be the next king. This violates the Scottish tradition of talking among the family to figure out who will rule next. This angers Macbeth because this was the perfect opportunity for him to become king. |
| Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires (S4, Ls 50-51) | Macbeth says this. Macbeth’s desire is to be king, but the dark part about this is that now he is going to have to kill Duncan & possibly Malcolm also. |
| Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from crown to toe, top-full Of direst cruelty! (S5, Ls 38-41) | Lad6 Macbeth says this & she is talking to herself in this time. The “spirits” is the devil. Lady Macbeth wants to be unsexed into a man, so she can kill, since woman then were believed to be unable to kill. She wants Macbeth to be king & this after she reads Macbeth’s letter with the info the witches gave him. |
| Look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t. (S5, Ls 63-64) | Lady Macbeth says while this speaking to Macbeth. Before Duncan comes over for dinner. She is basically telling Macbeth to seem sweet & fake it til he makes it, so then he can get to killing Duncan. Training Macbeth to be sneaky. |
| False face must hide what the false heart doth know. (S7, L 82) | Macbeth says this after being fully persuaded by Lady Macbeth. Another appearance vs. reality. Pretend to be nice to the king, while planning his murder. |
| What does Duncan mean by, “There’s no art/ To find the mind’s construction in the face”? | Duncan is saying that there is no way to change a man’s character. He’s trying to say that you cannot see someone’s character/motives by just looking at their face. |
Macbeth quotes and meaning act 1
August 17, 2019