Macbeth: Essential Quotes and Analysis
Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is a tragedy rich with themes of ambition, guilt, and the supernatural. This page provides key quotes from Macbeth with analysis for GCSE exams, focusing on the main characters and their development throughout the play.
Macbeth's Key Quotes
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"Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day." (Act 1, Scene 3)
- This quote shows Macbeth's initial fatalism and acceptance of his destiny.
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"False face must hide what the false heart doth know" (Act 1, Scene 7)
- Illustrates Macbeth's growing deceit and the theme of appearance vs. reality.
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"Is this a dagger which I see before me" (Act 2, Scene 1)
- A famous soliloquy revealing Macbeth's guilt and mental turmoil before killing King Duncan.
Highlight: The dagger hallucination is a pivotal moment, showcasing Macbeth's psychological struggle with his impending crime.
The Witches' Influence
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"Fair is foul, and foul is fair." (Act 1, Scene 1)
- This paradoxical statement sets the tone for the play's themes of deception and moral ambiguity.
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"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble." (Act 4, Scene 1)
- A memorable incantation that emphasizes the supernatural elements in the play.
Vocabulary: Supernatural - Relating to forces beyond scientific understanding and the laws of nature.
Lady Macbeth's Character
"Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here"
- This quote reveals Lady Macbeth's desire to shed her femininity to achieve her ambitions, challenging gender norms of the time.
Analysis: Lady Macbeth's character subverts traditional Elizabethan gender roles, positioning her as a powerful and influential figure in the play.
Historical Context and Themes
- The play explores themes of ambition, guilt, and the corrupting nature of power.
- Written during the Jacobean era, it reflects contemporary beliefs in witchcraft and the divine right of kings.
- The character of Lady Macbeth challenges traditional gender roles of the time.
Definition: Divine Right of Kings - A political and religious doctrine asserting that a monarch derives the right to rule directly from God.
These quotes and analyses provide essential insights for students preparing for GCSE exams on Macbeth, offering a deep understanding of character motivations, themes, and historical context.