Macbeth Quotes – Found in back of book

Fair is foul, and foul is fair Said: WitchesMeaning: Beauty can be foul underneath (like Lady Macbeth) or situations can appear good but be truly bad
So foul and fair a day I have not seen Said: MacbethMeaning: On the surface this could mean the day is bad because the witches are starting a storm, but good because they won the battle, but more deeply it could be referring to situations seeming good, but being bad (like the witches said) so him becoming King seems good, but also results in his own death eventually
Nothing in his lifeBecame him like the leaving it Said: MalcolmMeaning: confirms the death of the Thane of Cawdor. It means the Thane died with more dignity than he had lived because he confessed bravely.
Yet do I fear thy nature;It is too full o’th’ milk of human kindness Said: Lady MacbethMeaning: Shows how emotionless and cold she’s become and she states she thinks Macbeth is too kind to murder someone
Come, you spiritsThat tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here Said: Lady MacbethMeaning: She wants all her womanly characteristics to be removed from hear (sensitivity, compassion) because she believes it is the only way she can become ready to help Macbeth commit his evil deeds
Look like th’ innocent flowerBut be the serpent under t’ Said: Lady MacbethMeaning: Looking beautiful on the outside, but underneath vicious and powerful.
If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere wellIt were done quickly Said: MacbethMeaning: He is only human and has doubts and fears so he needs to kill Duncan fast before he loses his nerve because he knows how serious murder is.
Is this a dagger which I see before me,The handle toward my hand Said: MacbethMeaning: Happens right before he murders Duncan and he is hallucinating because he is so nervous and his conscience is killing him because he knows how serious what he is about to do is
Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care… Said: MacbethMeaning: He is worried about the things he has done and sleep is the only way to escape the awful guilt he’s feeling over the crime he committed
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash the bloodClean from my hand? Said: MacbethMeaning: After he killed Duncan he is facing the consequence of his guilt, and Neptune the god of the sea cannot wash away the blood on his hands or the guilt he feels even though he is basically in charge of all water. So this is just saying he feels really really really guilty.
Naught’s hand, all’s spentWhere our desire is got without content Said: Lady MacbethMeaning: This is when Lady Macbeth begins to feel bad about what she’s done. She is upset with Macbeth and unhappy with her life and starts to feel like it would’ve been better to live happily and without her desire of power than unhappily with power
We have scorched the snake, not killed it Said: MacbethMeaning: After the death of Duncan, Macbeth foreshadows that more evil is to come because they are still not safe just because they killed Duncan. That is simply the beginning and they still need to make sure the second part of the prophecy doesn’t come true.
Duncan is in his grave.After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well. Said: MacbethMeaning: He feels Duncan being dead is better than him being alive
… I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound inTo saucy doubts and fears Said: MacbethMeaning: Right after he hears that Banquo’s son escaped from the murders and he realizes his fear comes true and things are starting to go bad.
It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood Said: MacbethMeaning: Shows Macbeth’s strong fear. He is afraid that now his life will be taken/ his blood will be taken.
Double, double toil and trouble;Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. Said: WitchesMeaning: This is before Macbeth’s second appearance before them. It shows that all that they expected to happen has happened and now the trouble they’re going to bring upon him will be double the terror of before.
I’ll make assurance double sure… Said: MacbethMeaning: This is after he visits the witches a second time and they lie to him to steer him the wrong way by saying “no man or woman will kill him”. As a result he becomes very confident in himself, but the be double sure he wants to kill Macduff anyway
Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell Said: MalcolmMeaning: Malcolm has doubts about Macduff, wondering if he has become loyal to Macbeth, who he is ultimately against. He states that even Lucifer the brightest of angels fell so Macduff could surely too. He thinks it’s likely Macduff could fall and work for Macbeth
At one fell swoop? Said: MacduffMeaning/importance: “Were they all killed at once?” He is heartbroken that all his family could be killed in an instant and they’d all be gone.
Out, damned spot, out, I say Said: Lady MacbethMeaning/importance: Trying to wash away the stains of her guilt after killing so many people.
All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Said: Lady MacbethMeaning/importance: There is no way for her to escape or mask her guilt that she feels.
What’s done cannot be undone Said: Lady MacbethMeaning/importance: Now that they have killed all those people she feels guilt, but knows she cannot go back and prevent it all from happening because it’s already happened.
I have lived long enough, My way of LifeIs fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf… Said: MacbethMeaning/importance: Shows Macbeth is discontent with his life and just wants it to be over.
Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased…? Said: MacbethMeaning/importance: Says while he’s in battle, it shows the love Macbeth has for Lady Macbeth. Even in the midst of battle he still asks the doctor, “Can’t you help mentally ill people.”
I have supped full of horrors. Said: MacbethMeaning/importance: It shows how evil he as become. At a time he would’ve been concerned and caught off guard by a womans scream, but now he doesn’t even flinch to the sound of his own wife killing herself because he’s so numb to evil things.
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow… Said: MacbethMeaning/importance: He is discontent with like and the days go on the same way without any new meaning. He thinks it’s pointless.
I’gin to be aweary of the sun Said: MacbethMeaning/importance: The troops arrive and this line shows that Macbeth still thinks winning is important even when he is so depressed
Lay on, MacduffAnd damned be him that first cries “Hold! Enough!” Said: MacbethMeaning/importance: He agrees to fight Macduff. He decides it is better to be killed than to continue living his life committing crime after crime, as he has been.
July 4, 2019