Quotes and Analysis

Macbeth Quotes

• “Something wicked this way comes.”
• - Foreshadowing
• “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.”
• “ - Stealth, darkness.
• “Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here”
• - Lady Macbeth wants to lose her femininity so she can be stronger
• Macbeth doesn’t think he can murder Duncan because 1) he’s his kinsman 2) he’s his host “who should against his murderer shut the door not bear the knife myself” 3) Duncan is a good man.
• “We will proceed no more in this business” - Macbeth
• “Is this a dagger which I see before me, handle towards my hand?”
• "Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man’s act," - The heavens are not happy with was has happened
• "O gentle lady, 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: The repetition, in a woman’s ear, Would murder as it fell." - Macduff to Lady Macbeth, saying women are weak

Context

• Most likely written in 1606
• Written in the early reign of James 1st
• Play could be seen to pay tribute to James who was the king of Scotland.
• James believed that that the power that he had was bestowed on him by god, not by his subjects ; Rebellion was the worst course of action to take.

Lady Macbeth

• Powerful, influential.
• Effectively kills the king through Macbeth = using Macbeth
• Encourages Macbeth to be king to elevate her own position of power.
• Not the stereotypical woman, being more concerned with power and politics.
• Guilt of the murders she has committed eventually leads to her madness and suicide. - Perhaps she realises that she has corrupted her husband and made him a monster and kills herself out of guilt.

Lady Macduff

• Lady Macduff is Lady Macbeth's opposite.
• Loyal, devoted, prioritises the raising of her children.
• Rebukes her husband for leaving the family to pursue vengeance on Macbeth for killing Duncan.
• Shakespeare uses this female figure to show positive traits -- devotion, goodness, high moral standing, unselfishness and inner strength. Lady Macduff's strong mental state provides a stark contrast to Lady Macbeth's increasing madness.