Macbeth

Macbeth

1. Good

   • "Is he dispatch'd?" and "But Banquo's safe?"
     • When Macbeth is talking to the murderers (who killed Banquo) about Banquo's death, he cannot bring himself to say the word 'murder' or 'dead'. This is because he is still a slightly good person and still regrets his evil actions.
   • “For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name”
     • This quote is quite a simple one - it is literally someone (a military captain) saying Macbeth is brave; and someone who is brave usually possesses other heroic qualities such as generosity.
   • "We will proceed no further in this business."
     • This is basically Macbeth saying to his wife that this whole thing has gone far enough (he says this before the King has been killed) - he is obviously still a good person here, and actually it is his wife that lots of people think eventually made Macbeth decide to kill the King.
   • "In doing it, pays itself."
     • This is quite near the start, when Macbeth and Banquo are talking to the King; he is saying that serving the King does not require physica payment - the honour is enough payment for him.

2. Bad

   • “With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design moves like a ghost.”
     • Macbeth says this when he has made up his mind about killing Duncan; the particular word “Tarquin” is quite effective because in Shakespeare’s poem, ‘The Rape of Lucrece’, Tarquin rapes his friend’s wife, Lucrece.
   • "Let not light see my deep and black desires."
     • This quote is quite a straight-forward one - it means Macbeth does not want anyone or anything to know about his evil plans, as he fears he will be found out and stopped - also he would receive the punishment for high treason (killing the King) - DEATH.
   • "Give to th'edge o'th'sword, his wifes, his babes and all unfortunate souls who trace him in his line."
     • Macbeth is telling Lennox that he is going to attack Macduff's castle and kill his wife, children and anyone in the castle. this shows that he is evil because he was only told that he should beware Macduff, but not to beware the rest of his family and his servants. this is the first example of when Macbeth has turned copletely evilbecause this is the first time when the murder cannot be justified.
   • "Both of you know Banquo was your enemy."
     • This is when Macbeth is talking to two murderers, persuading them to kill Banquo. This particular quote shows him being manipulative and deceptive; lying to the murderers - saying Banquo is a bad person and deserves to be killed.