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Macbeth quote analysis (Acts 3-5) Five Quotes - Act III

First Quote - (3.1.1-10)

“Thou hast it now—king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou played'st most foully for't. Yet it was said It should not stand in thy posterity, But that myself should be the root and father Of many kings. If there come truth from them (As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine) Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well, And set me up in hope? But hush, no more.” - Banquo

This is after the events of Act 2 have unfolded. We have Banquo reflecting on what happened and what it meant. Banquo has a clear suspicion of Macbeth, he acknowledges that Macbeth’s prophecy was fulfilled through murder. Because of his knowledge, Banquo is now a threat to Macbeth, and that’s the reason he calls a hit on Banquo. But what’s really interesting is that Banquo tells himself to hush. He doesn’t really tell anyone of the prophecy or of his suspicions, this is because he has his own prophecy. By witnessing the fulfillment of Macbeth’s prophecies, he realizes that his prophecy will be fulfilled (he will be the father of kings). This exposes some of Banquo’s character, although he is seen with honorable morals, he is also ambitious.

Second Quote - (3.2.45-46)

“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed.” - Macbeth (to Lady Macbeth)

This is after Macbeth sends the murderers to kill Banquo. Lady Macbeth asks a servant where Banquo is going, then after she asks to speak with Macbeth. What we find is that Lady Macbeth had little to no idea of Macbeth’s plan to kill Banquo. What this tells us is that Macbeth is starting to make his own decisions and he is now masterminding the plan to cover up the murder and maintain kingship. It’s almost as if he changed into a new person after he gained the taste of blood. The morals of the original Macbeth have been stripped and now he seems to better fit the role of a murderer.

Third Quote - (3.4.40-43)

“Here had we now our country's honour roof'd, Were the graced person of our Banquo present; Who may I rather challenge for unkindness Than pity for mischance!” - Macbeth

Macbeth says this during the banquet (as a toast with all the lords and thanes in the room) and this is after we see Banquo killed in the last scene. This has a lot of dramatic irony, the audience knows that Banquo is not missing but he is dead, yet Macbeth makes it seem as if Banquo just couldn’t make it to the banquet. He compliments Banquo, but makes clear that he couldn’t attend the feast out of his own “unkindness” rather than any “mischance”. Macbeth is becoming more and more manipulative even through his deteriorating mental state, he is still able to keep his composure and lie.

Fourth Quote - (3.4.122)

“It will have blood they say; blood will have blood.” - Macbeth

This is after Macbeth witnesses the ghost of Banquo and Lady Macbeth dismisses the lords and thanes from the castle. Remember that Banquo was killed by Macbeth in cold blood, now the ghost won’t rest until it has been avenged and more blood has been spilt. In order for the story to be complete the order must be restored so if Banquo’s ghost is in unrest and in need of vengeance, surely now it seems as though Macbeth’s fatal fate will come to pass (foreshadows Macbeth’s death to come).

Fifth Quote - (3.4.64-65)

“Sit worthy friends. My lord is often thus And hath been from his youth. Pray you, keep seat.” - Lady Macbeth

While Macbeth seems to have a mental breakdown, the manipulative Lady Macbeth swoops in. She tries to make the guests believe that the erratic behaviour of Macbeth was normal, something that wasn’t unusual. She tries to ease the crowd and creates a cover story which plays into the theme of appearance vs. reality.

Five Quotes - Act IV

First Quote - (4.1.103-114)

“Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him.” - Third Apparition

This was when Macbeth visits the witches for the second time and when they summoned Macbeth returns to the witches seeking a better glimpse of his future, he isn’t quite sure what he has to do to attain full control of his fate. So, the witches conjure the three apparitions, the third being the most potent. The apparition tells Macbeth to ease off and be proud, only till the wood of Birnam physically moves to Dunsinane will he be vanquished. This makes Macbeth a bit confident as he continues down his dark path. The manipulation succeeds as we see Macbeth completely oblivious to the fact that the prophecy will soon be fulfilled. The witches never wanted Macbeth to succeed, they just wanted to stir the pot (pun intended). They make him feel invincible and then we see Macbeth become impulsive and even tries to take on Macduff even when he was warned.

Second Quote - (4.1.127-139)

“Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo. Down! Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs. And thy hair, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first. A third is like the former.—Filthy hags! Why do you show me this?—A fourth? Start, eyes! What, will the line stretch out to th' crack of doom? Another yet? A seventh? I'll see no more. And yet the eighth appears who bears a glass Which shows me many more, and some I see That twofold balls and treble scepters carry. Horrible sight! Now I see 'tis true, For the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me, And points at them for his.” - Macbeth

The witches are presenting Macbeth with visions of Banquo’s line of kings. Clearly Macbeth is not happy, this gives him a sense of helplessness. This is almost confirmation that the prophecies that the witches give were set in stone, no matter how much he tries to change them. He realizes that the prophecies of his death at the hands of a man not born from woman will likely happen. This foreshadows Macbeth’s, now almost certain, death. Which leads to feelings of uneasiness on Macbeth’s part.

Third Quote - (4.3.233-238)

“O, I could play the woman with mine eyes And braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens, Cut short all intermission; front to front Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself; Within my sword's length set him; if he 'scape, Heaven forgive him too!” - Macduff

This is after Macduff passes Malcolm’s tests and he learns that his family is all dead. In this quote Macduff comes to a realization that he has to take action against Macbeth, and he takes on the role of Nemesis within the play. This foreshadows Macbeth’s one-on-one confrontation with Macduff, and it foreshadows Macbeth’s eventual death at the hands of Macduff.

Fourth Quote - (4.3.13-14)

"This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues, Was once thought honest". - Malcolm

Malcolm says this to Macduff after its established that they are allies. They make known aloud the reason to kill Macbeth; Macbeth is the wicked tyrant, who was once a friend to the king and is now seen as the face of evil. It’s ironic because Macbeth turned on a friend, the king, and even Banquo, and now the friends of the king and Banquo conspire to kill Macbeth.

Fifth Quote -

The castle of Macduff I will surprise, give to the edge o’ the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line. - Macbeth

First during the time he was in contact with the apparitions he is warned of Macduff, and now he is warned by Lennox. Here, we see him act almost impulsively, as soon as something is a threat to his prophecy he acts on it with senseless killing. We see a full transformation from a Macbeth with morals, to an impulsive killer. And notice how he hangs on to the prophecy to justify to himself the actions he makes.

Five Quotes - Act V

First Quote - (5.1.44-45)

“Out damned spot, out I say...! All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.” - Lady Macbeth

She is sleepwalking and sees spots of blood on her hands. She’s all but admitting her guilt in the murders of Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff’s family during this time. Her guilt and remorse are driving her insane. It’s almost as if she has been tainted, her guilt dirties her conscience and she wants to be clean, she can’t though. It foreshadows her apparent suicide. Lady Macbeth has reached her final moments within in the play, she went from a cold and calculated mastermind, to a guilty soul, that could not bear the weight of murder.

Second Quote - (5.5.9)

“I have almost forgot the taste of fears.” - Macbeth

He no longer fears anything because of the bad things he’s done. This was Hecate’s plan (to make him overconfident). A leader should always fear something, but he’s changed so much that he can’t. He changed from a man with morals, to a hardened stone-cold murderer. He used to fear the thought of murder and now murders without a thought.

Third Quote - (5.5.23-25)

“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.” - Macbeth (to himself when the servant informs him of his wife’s death)

He says this after he learns that his wife is dead. Here, he is telling the audience that life is meaningless. He feels empty now since all the things that made him a human and a member of society has been stripped from him, he feels like the dark shadow of a man that was once honorable, a final manifestation of his dark ambition.

Fourth Quote - (5.8.15-16)

“Despair thy charm, for Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.” - Macduff

This is almost like the final prophecy being fulfilled, Macduff was not naturally born and now Macbeth knows. There is no where else to turn for Macbeth, Macduff was destined to kill him, it was fate. It’s almost like the climax, there was a glimmer of hope for Macbeth this would be a battle that defined his victory, but then when Macduff reveals his birth the hope was gone, he is as good as dead.

Fifth Quote - (5.8.65-70)

“Hail, King! for so thou art. Behold, where stands The' usurper's cursèd head. The time is free. I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl, That speak my salutation in their minds, Whose voices I desire aloud with mine. Hail, King of Scotland!” - Macduff

Macbeth's reign has come to an end and the people of Scotland now live in freedom. But there's also the sense that order had been broken, Macbeth murdered Duncan and became king and it was not meant to happen. Now that the rightful heir, Malcolm, will be crowned as the next king, order is restored, and equilibrium has been reached.