MACBETH

Themes
1. Ambition
2. Supernatural
3. Evil
4. Loyalty vs. Betrayal
5. Order vs. Disorder
6. Fate vs. Freewill
7. Appearance and Reality
8. Equivocation
9. Violence and Tyranny
10. Guilt and Conscience
11. Masculinity

Quote Table
Act & Key Moments Quote Technique and Analysis Theme
scene
1.1 - Three “Thunder and Pathetic fallacy; - Supernatural
witches lightning” Dark/foreboding/ominous - Evil
introduced (S.D.) mood/atmosphere - Fate vs.
- Witches introduced freewill
mention - Foreshadowing
Macbeth “The battle’s Paradoxical language;
lost and Foreshadow
won.”

“Fair is foul, Paradoxical

and foul is language/Alliteration/Visual
fair, / Hover Imagery;
through the Disorder present at
fog and filthy beginning of play
air.”
Alliteration of ‘f’ (fricative
alliteration) gives sense of
foreboding, emphasising
evil nature of witches’
chant

Imagery gives sense of

uncleanliness/unnatural

1.2 - Duncan, “with his Metaphor/Simile; - Loyalty vs.

Malcolm, brandished Macbeth’s sword hot from Betrayal
Donaldbain steel, / Which killing people - Violence
and Lennox smoked with - Masculinity
introduced bloody Comparing “Valour’s - Blood motif
- Macbeth execution, / minion” (bravery’s
characterised Like Valour’s favourite) to Macbeth, he is
by other minion skilled in battle
characters carved out
- Macbeth in his passage”
 battle, killing
former Thane “What he Paradoxical language;
of Cawdor hath lost, Characterises Macbeth as
- Macbeth noble “noble”, showing he is well-
promoted to Macbeth hath regarded
Thane of won.”
Cawdor

1.3 - Macbeth and “So foul and Paradoxical Language; - Ambition

Banquo fair a day I (Echoes 1.1.12) Describes - Supernatural
introduced have not the weather as bad, but - Evil
- They receive seen.” the outcome of the battle - Order vs.
prophecies good Disorder
- Macbeth is - Fate vs.
told he is Freewill
Thane of “That he Macbeth is captivated by - Appearance
Cawdor by seems rapt prophecies, hinting at his and Reality
Ross withal. To me ambition and hunger for - Equivocation
- Character foil you speak power
between not.”
Macbeth and Banquo also wants a
Banquo is prophecy
prevalent

“Why do you Metaphor;

dress me / In Comparing robes, a
borrowed garment usually worn by
robes?” royalty, to the title; Thane
of Cawdor

“instruments Metaphor;
of darkness The “instruments of
tell us truths” darkness” referring to the
witches

Banquo warns Macbeth to

be cautious of believing
witches

“Cannot be Paradoxical Language;

ill, cannot be Macbeth questions
good.” Banquo’s warning,
demonstrating character
foil between the two

1.4 - O.G. Thane “On which I Metaphor; - Ambition

of Cawdor must fall Sees Duncan and his sons - Loyalty vs.
died down, or else as obstacles – admits he Betrayal
- Macbeth o’erleap, / will have to kill the king to - Fate vs.
formally For in my gain the crown Freewill
receives title way it lies.” - Guilt and
- Malcolm Conscience
declared as “Stars, hide Personification; - Foreshadowing
heir your fires, Let Light and dark imagery
- Thinks about not light see used to contrast Macbeth’s
 plotting my black and ambition and Heaven
murder of deep
Duncan and desires,”
sons

1.5 - Lady “too full Metaphor; - Ambition

Macbeth o’th’milk of Symbolism of milk, a life- - Evil
introduced human giving substance, to - Fate vs.
receives kindness” Macbeth being ‘soft’ Freewill
news of - Masculinity
promotion “That I may Metaphor;
- Starts judging pour my Drawing a comparison
Macbeth’s spirits in thine between a liquid and
character ear / And “spirits”
chastise with
the valour of
my tongue /
All that
impedes thee
from the “golden round” refers to
golden the crown
round”
Symbolism/High-modality
“That croaks Language;
the fatal Using a raven croaking to
entrance of signal the coming death of
Duncan / Duncan
Under my
battlements.” Represents the subversion
of gender roles; she is
taking ownership

Imagery/Alliteration;
“And take my Milk, a nurturing substance
milk for gall, turned into a bitter
you murd’ring liquid/potion
ministers,”
“murd’ring ministers”

Metaphor;
“a book Lady Macbeth thinks
where men / Macbeth cannot conceal
May read the truth; comparing his
strange face to a book
matters.”
Metaphor/Animal imagery;
“look like Imagery of a serpent to
th’innocent evoke a sense of lies and
flower, / But evil, but imagery of flower
be the gives a sense of innocence
serpent and purity; Lady Macbeth
under’t” tells Macbeth what to do
demonstrating a
subversion of gender roles.
1.6 - Duncan, “Fair and Dramatic Irony; - Advancing of
 Malcolm, noble Lady Macbeth is plotting plot
Donalbain hostess” Duncan’s murder whilst - Evil
arrive at welcoming him - Appearance
Inverness vs. Reality
- Welcomed by - Loyalty vs.
Lady Betrayal
Macbeth who
is shown to
be deceitful

1.7 - Macbeth “If it were Soliloquy; - Ambition

struggles with done when Macbeth shows his - Loyalty vs.
his ‘tis done, reluctance about Betrayal
conscience then ‘twere murdering Duncan, - Fate vs.
- He talks well / It were wanting to get it over and Freewill
himself out of done done with - Guilt and
murdering quickly.” Conscience
Duncan Metaphor/Equestrian - Masculinity
- Lady “I have no Imagery;
Macbeth spur / To He has a cause to kill
guilt-trips prick the Duncan except his
Macbeth sides of my ambition, using the
- Lady intent, but imagery of a horse to draw
Macbeth only / comparison to his ambition
plots the Vaulting
murder of ambition”
Duncan High modality language;
“We will Demonstrates Macbeth
proceed no finality in not killing Duncan
further in this
business”
Metaphor/Personification;
“Was the Lady Macbeth guilt-trips
hope drunk / Macbeth into killing
Wherein you Duncan, using
dressed personification and a
yourself? metaphor drawing a
Hath it slept comparison between hope
since?” and robes

Personification/Imagery;
“But screw Lady Macbeth encourages
your courage Macbeth and “takes the
to the reigns” demonstrating the
sticking- subversion of gender roles
place, / And
we’ll not fail.”
Personification;
“For thy Macbeth personifies Lady
undaunted Macbeth’s mettle (spirit)
mettle should and complements on her
compose / masculinity
Nothing but
males.”
High modality language;
 “I am settled Macbeth is resolute on
and bend up” killing Duncan after he has
been convinced

2.1 - Banquo “A heavy Simile; - Ambition

compliments summons lies Banquo is troubled by the - Loyalty vs.
Macbeth on like lead prophecies, but, calls on Betrayal
his hospitality upon me… good not evil, showing the - Order vs.
- Macbeth lies merciful character foil between him Disorder
about not powers,” and Macbeth - Fate vs.
thinking Freewill
about the Character Foil; - Appearance
witches “My bosom This characterises Banquo and Reality
- He franchised as loyal to Duncan, even - Guilt and
hallucinates a and after Macbeth tries to Conscience
bloodied allegiance convince him to join him
dagger clear, / I shall
- Murder is off be
stage counselled.”
Soliloquy/Rhetorical
“Is this a Question;
dagger which Macbeth hallucinates a
I see before dagger (amongst other evil
me, / The thoughts), demonstrating
handle his unclear conscience and
toward my the manifestations of a
hand?” disturbed mind

Metaphor;
“Proceeding Macbeth is racked with
from the guilt, the heat a metaphor
heat- for guilt
oppressed
brain?”
Personification;
“Nature Regicide is about to be
seems dead, committed and Macbeth
wicked personifies dreams as
dreams wicked and abusive.
abuse / The
curtained
sleep.”
High modality
“I go and it is language/Personification;
done. The Macbeth is decided when
bell invites he is about to kill Duncan,
me.” giving finality to the scene
and also using imagery of
a bell toll used to mark
death

2.2 - Lady “hath made Metaphor; - Ambition

Macbeth has me / bold; … Characterises Lady - Evil
bolstered hath given Macbeth as cold, strong - Guilt and
confidence me fire.” and remorseless Conscience
 - Macbeth - Masculinity
imagines a Personification;
voice crying, “‘Macbeth Personifies sleep, and is a
symbolising does murder symbol of Macbeth’s guilt
his guilt sleep’, the
- Lady innocent
Macbeth sleep,”
plans an alibi Motif
“Macbeth Having no sleep leads to
shall sleep no madness
more.”
Extended Metaphor;
“Wash this “filthy witness” refers to the
filthy witness guilt but also the blood
from your
hand.”
High modality language;
“I’ll go no Macbeth refuses to go
more. / I am back because he is
afraid to think shocked with guilt
what I have
done;”
High modality language;
“Give me the Lady Macbeth takes
daggers.” ownership of the murder
and is frustrated with
Macbeth’s cowardice

Hyperbolic rhetorical
“Will all great question;
Neptune’s Not even the Greek God of
ocean wash the seas can wash the
this blood / blood (symbolising guilt)
Clean from from Macbeth’s hand
my hand?”
Metaphor;
“To wear a Lady Macbeth accuses
heart so Macbeth of being weak,
white.” demonstrating a reversal
of gender roles

Extended metaphor;
“A little water Water washes away the
clears us of blood, but it is impossible
this deed.” to wash away the guilt

2.3 - This scene is “Lord’s Religious Imagery; - Order vs.

for comic anointed Duncan’s death signifies Disorder
relief and temple and the breaking of the ‘Great
relieves the stole thence / Chain of Being’ and the
tension The life ‘Divine Right of Kings’
- Macbeth’s o’th’building .
Porter is ” Irony;
drunk and “The Implies gender normality of
imagines repetition in a the time which was women
 himself woman’s were fragile and could not
keeper of ear / would see/hear bad things, but
Hell’s gate murder as it not Lady Macbeth
- Chaos fell.”
ensues, the Metaphor;
king has No one can be trusted just
been “There’s by their appearance
murdered daggers in
- Macbeth kills men’s
bodyguard smiles;”
- Lady
Macbeth
faints
- Duncan’s
sons flee the
country

2.4 - Nature is n/a n/a - Supernatural

upside down, - Order vs.
something is Disorder
askew
- Macbeth is
crowned king
at Scone

3.1 - Banquo is “Thou Metaphor; - Ambition

suspicious of played’st Banquo is suspicious of - Loyalty vs.
Macbeth most foully Macbeth, he cheated in Betrayal
- Macbeth asks for’t;” the game to win the crown
Banquo to
attend “Command Characterisation;
tonight’s feast upon me, to Banquo demonstrates his
- He confirms the which my loyalty to the King
whether he duties / Are
will be with a most
leaving with indissoluble
Fleance tie / Forever
- Macbeth’s knit.”
soliloquy
about his “Fail not our Dramatic Irony;
insecurities feast… Goes Macbeth is premeditating
about losing Fleance with the murder
the crown you?”
- Macbeth
orders “To be thus is High modality
murderers to nothing, / But language/Repetition;
kill Banquo to be safely Macbeth want to secure
thus.” his position as king,
otherwise it is nothing

“Our fears in
Banquo / Metaphor;
Stick deep, Macbeth is worried about
and in his Banquo’s noble nature,
royalty of wisdom and valour
 nature /
Reigns that
which would
be feared.”

“Upon my
head they Metaphor/Imagery;
placed a Macbeth laments about his
fruitless childlessness, using phallic
crown / And imagery, showing how
put a barren Macbeth is driven by fear
sceptre in my
gripe”

3.2 - Lady “’Tis safer to Rhyming couplet; - Ambition

Macbeth is be that which Lady Macbeth regrets the - Guilt and
troubled we destroy / murder of Duncan, saying Conscience
- Macbeth Than by it is better to be the victim
wants peace destruction than th murder, showing
- He asks her dwell in how guilt corrupts
to be doubtful joy.”
deceitful
“We have Metaphor/Animal Imagery;
scorched the Macbeth is worried they
snake, not have only done half a job,
killed it;” and need to clean things
up, showing how fear
driven he is

“Better be Motif;
with the dead The Macbeths experience
/ Whom we, a lack peace and sleep
to gain our after the murder driven by
peace,” a guilty conscience

“O, full of Metaphor/Animal Imagery;

scorpions is He is worried about
my mind, Banquo’s prophecies
dear wife!”

“Things bad Personification

begun, make Bad deeds bring on more
strong bad deeds, Shakespeare
themselves trying to convey a
by ill.” message to audience
about regicide

3.3 - Banquo is n/a n/a - Evil

murdered - Loyalty vs.
- Fleance Betrayal
escapes - Violence and
Tyranny
3.4 - Macbeth’s “But now I Alliteration; - Supernatural
fears are re- am cabined, Macbeth says he is - Appearance
 established cribbed, trapped and there is no and Reality
due to confined,” way he can escape his - Guilt and
Fleance guilt Conscience
escaping
death “There the Metaphor/Animal Imagery;
- Banquo’s grown Macbeth characterises
Ghost haunts serpent lies; Banquo as a snake, a
Macbeth at the worm symbol of evil and
the Banquet that’s fled” deception as well as
- The party is Fleance as a worm, that
cancelled and will grow into a snake
Macbeth is
scared and “It will have Motif/Expression;
guilty blood they The dead will have
say: blood revenge, Shakespeare is
will have trying to send a message
blood.” to not commit regicide

Motif/Metaphor;
“I am in blood Macbeth is saying he has
/ Stepped in killed so many that he
so far that should not kill anymore; he
should I is in too deep
wade no
more,”
3.5 - Hecate n/a n/a - Supernatural
introduced - Evil
- Hecate is - Fate vs.
jealous and Freewill
plans to show
Macbeth
visions

3.6 - Lennox talks “suffering Imagery/Personification; - Order vs.

of strange country / Scotland is portrayed as Disorder
events and under a hand suffering under Macbeth’s - Violence and
suspects accursed.” tyrannical rule, the Thanes Tyranny
Macbeth of want order restored
murder
- Malcolm has
gathered
English
forces
- Macbeth is
now referred
to as a
‘tyrant’

4.1 - Witches give “Double, Alliteration/Rhyme; - Supernatural

the new double toil Gives a sense of chanting - Evil
prophecies to and trouble; / and evil; they are saying - Equivocation
Macbeth Fire burn, spells - Violence and
- He is and cauldron Tyranny
reassured bubble.”
 about his Macbeth is viewed as
position as “Something wicked (moral degradation)
king wicked this
- He plots to way comes;”
kill Macduff Light and Dark Imagery;
and his family “How now, The darkness evokes a
you secret, sense of evil. It shows
black, and Macbeth has become
midnight bolder and demonstrates
hags!” his bravado

Exclamatory language;
“Down! … Macbeth is upset about the
Horrible fourth apparition
sight!”
Metaphor;
“To crown my Macbeth descends even
thoughts with further into madness, and
acts,” is determined the remove
anyone who stands in his
way

4.2 - Lady Macduff “Our fears do Figurative language; - Violence and

feels make us Emotions can lead us to do Tyranny
betrayed by traitors.” things we regret which is
Macduff true to Macbeth
- The Macduffs
are murdered “He is noble, Triad;
- Macbeth has wise, Emphasises the good
resorted to judicious” qualities of Macduff
brutality

4.3 - Malcolm and “This tyrant, Imagery; - Loyalty vs.

Macduff whose sole Harsh language is used to Betrayal
discussing name blisters characterise Macbeth as - Violence and
about our tongues” opposed to Act 1 Tyranny
Scotland
- They are “It weeps, it Personification;
planning to bleeds, and Scotland is injured by
take her back each new Macbeth
- Macduff day a gash /
receives Is added to
news his her wounds.”
family has
been
murdered

5.1 - Lady “Out, damned Exclamatory Remark; - Guilt and

Macbeth is spot!” Lady Macbeth is now also Conscience
sleepwalking racked with guilt despite
due to her her willingness at the start
guilt of the play, she is
- She reveals desperate
that they
 have killed High modality language;
Duncan, “what’s This gives a sense of
Banquo and done / cannot finality, there is no
Macduff’s be undone.” reversing things, which is
Family in contrast to Act 2.2

5.2 - English army “the med’cine Metaphor; - Order vs.

with Malcolm of the sickly Malcolm is the cure of the Disorder
and Macduff weal,” diseased kingdom - Fate vs.
approach Freewill
Scotland
- Macbeth is
troubled by
internal revolt

5.3 - Macbeth is “I will not be Rhyming Couplet; - Fate vs.

bolstered with afraid of Macbeth has gone mad, Freewill
courage death and he is fooled by the - Violence and
- He has gone bane, / Till equivocations and puts his Tyranny
mad Birnam trust fully in them
Forest come
to
Dunsinane.”

5.4 - Malcolm and n/a n/a - Fate vs.

the English Freewill
army put on
some
camouflage
via trees

5.5 - Lady “I have Metaphor - Fate vs.

Macbeth dies almost forgot Macbeth is confident and Freewill
- Macbeth the taste of at ease, but he has been - Violence and
receives fears;” fooled Tyranny
news there
“Life’s but a Metaphor
walking Macbeth is very much now
shadow,” depressed and couldn’t
care less, a shadow is
influenced by the real
object, it can be
manipulated

5.6 - Battle is n/a n/a - Fate vs.

about to Freewill
commence

5.7 - Young - Equivocation

Siward dies - Violence and
- Macduff Tyranny
hunts
Macbeth
5.8 - Macduff “juggling Metaphor; - Fate vs.
reveals he is fiends no Macbeth realises he has Freewill
special more been tricked by the - Equivocation
- Macbeth dies believed / witches, he has been - Violence and
That plater fooled Tyranny
with us in a
double
sense,”

5.9 - Macbeth’s “dead Epithet; - Order vs.

severed head butcher and Last characterisation of Disorder
is displayed his fiend-like Macbeth and Lady
by Macduff queen,” Macbeth
- Malcolm is
crowned king