Could imply the beginning of Macbeth's corruption, commanding heaven to hide it's truth, purity and morality. Disregard Divine Right of Kings.

Use of light imagery shows Macbeth turning his back on God, "deep" representing his deep lust for power, dominating his thoughts. 

"Let not light see my dark and deep desires" - Macbeth

She subverts gender roles, and consorts with evil, wanting her feminine quality stripped.

Pathetic Fallacy - danger, distruption of nature and humanity and peace, chaotic 

[Thunder and Lightning] - Opening stage directions.

A chiasmus to connote the evil intent of the supernatural, shakespeare did this to appeal to King James III for he had a great fear of the supernatural.

Macbeth repeats the witches incantations showing he is influenced and corrupt by them 

"Fair is foul a day I have ever seen" - Macbeth

the sibilance shows the sinister nature of the witches temptation 

Shows LM power over her husband, which subverts Jacobean expectations. Flower shows charming, innocent and harmless whereas serpent shows duplicity and falseness

"Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath" - LM

Shows his abundance of guilt and unclean conscience. Compromised his humanity. This is repeated through the play

Religious imagery to show not even the heavens can remove his guilt, dammed for regicide

"Neptune's oceans can't wash this blood" - Macbeth

Shows her emasculation of Macbeth white showing purity and innocent. Lady Macbeth seems him as weak.

No legacy, no purpose, futile reign, juxtaposition of the feeling of power, empty feeling

Macbeth refuses responsibility, guilt, paranoia, unclean conscience 

"Don't shake they gory locks at me" - Macbeth

Shows responsibility, temptation, corruption, hallucinations show madness, supernatural influence

"Is this a dagger I see before me with the handle faced toward thy hand" - Macbeth 

Scorpions show a poisoned mind, secret, deadly intent 

Macbeth s hamartia, he still believes supernatural, shows his trust lead to downfall, tyrancy. 

inescapable torment, consequences, candle representing fragility, quick ends, insignificant compared to the darkness.

English (UK)

Quotes with annotations - These are the most important quotes in my opinion.

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Pops

United Kingdom

DEFAULT (England)

English Literature

Macbeth Quotes and their annotation 

Hey there! Check out these Macbeth key quotes and their analysis, perfect for grade 9 and GCSE. We've got important quotes from Act 1 and Act 3, including Lady Macbeth's key quotes, all explained simply. Download the PDF and study with short annotated quotes!

Macbeth Key Quotes and Analysis for Study - Acts 1 and 3, Grade 9, GCSE

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Macbeth Key Quotes and Analysis for Study - Acts 1 and 3, Grade 9, GCSE

Flashcards