Questions and Answers
Who is the speaker of the quote 'fair is foul, and foul is fair'?
What does Banquo warn Macbeth about in his quote regarding the instruments of darkness?
That evil tries to tempt us with half-truths leading to doom.
What does Malcolm imply about a good death in 'Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it'?
Showing how a person can die with dignity.
What is Macbeth hoping for in the quote 'If chance will have me King, why chance may crown me'?
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What commitment does Macbeth express in 'Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires'?
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What concern does Lady Macbeth express about her husband's nature in 'Yet do I fear thy nature'?
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What does Lady Macbeth mean by 'unsex me here'?
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In 'Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't', what does Lady Macbeth instruct Macbeth to do?
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What does Macbeth identify as his only motivation in 'I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent'?
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What is Lady Macbeth challenging Macbeth to prove in 'When you durst do it, then you were a man'?
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What does Macbeth imply in 'False face must hide what false heart doth know'?
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What does Macbeth hear after killing Duncan in 'Methought I heard a voice cry Sleep no more'?
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What does Macbeth question in 'Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?'?
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What does Lady Macbeth state about their guilt in 'A little water clears us of this deed'?
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What is implied in Donalbain's quote 'there's daggers in men's smiles'?
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What does Banquo suspect about Macbeth in 'Thou hast it now—King, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the Weird Women promised'?
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What does Macbeth express in 'To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus'?
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Study Notes
Key Quotes from Macbeth
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"Fair is foul, and foul is fair" (1.1):
- Speaker: The three witches
- Signifies the theme of appearance versus reality, indicating that things may not be as they seem.
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"And oftentimes, to win us to our harm the instruments of darkness tell us truths..." (1.3):
- Speaker: Banquo to Macbeth
- Warns of the dangers of evil tempting with partial truths, foreshadowing Macbeth's downfall.
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"Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it" (1.4):
- Speaker: Malcolm about Cawdor
- Highlights dignity in death and contrasts good and bad deaths.
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"If chance will have me King, why chance may crown me, without my stir." (1.3):
- Speaker: Macbeth
- Expresses hope for fate to make him king without action, introducing the theme of fate.
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"Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires." (1.4):
- Speaker: Macbeth
- Indicates his commitment to murdering Duncan and the growth of his evil intentions.
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"Yet do I fear thy nature. It is too full o' the milk of human kindness..." (1.5):
- Speaker: Lady Macbeth
- Displays her concerns about Macbeth's hesitation, showcasing gender bending with her cruel demeanor.
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"Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here..." (1.5):
- Speaker: Lady Macbeth
- A plea to evil forces for greater cruelty, emphasizing unnatural themes and gender bending.
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"Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't." (1.5):
- Speaker: Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
- Advises Macbeth to feign innocence while plotting deceit, reinforcing appearance versus reality.
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"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition..." (1.7):
- Speaker: Macbeth
- Conveys that ambition is his sole motivation, stressing the theme of ambition.
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"I do all that may become a man..." (1.7):
- Speaker: Macbeth; responds to Lady Macbeth
- Illustrates Macbeth's hesitation and humanity as Lady Macbeth challenges his masculinity.
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"False face must hide what false heart doth know." (1.7):
- Speaker: Macbeth
- Reveals his decision to act innocent while harboring guilt, highlighting the theme of appearance versus reality.
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"Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep...' " (2.2):
- Speaker: Macbeth
- Reflects his guilt and anxiety post-Duncan's murder, connecting to themes of sleep and dreams.
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"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" (2.2):
- Speaker: Macbeth
- Illustrates profound guilt, suggesting that his actions have irrevocable consequences.
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"A little water clears us of this deed..." (2.2):
- Speaker: Lady Macbeth
- Indicates her belief in easily overcoming guilt, contrasting her perspective with Macbeth's turmoil.
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"There's daggers in men's smiles." (2.3):
- Speaker: Donalbain to Malcolm
- Warns about betrayal and deceit disguised as kindness, reinforcing the theme of appearance versus reality.
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"Thou hast it now—King, Cawdor, Glamis, all as the Weird Women promised..." (3.1):
- Speaker: Banquo about Macbeth
- Displays Banquo's suspicion that Macbeth obtained the throne through foul means, signaling ambition and unnatural evil.
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"To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo stick deep." (3.1):
- Speaker: Macbeth
- Reveals his escalating ambition and paranoia regarding the prophecy, indicating fear of Banquo.
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Explore key quotes from Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' with our flashcards. Each card highlights a significant quote, its speaker, and its meaning, enhancing your understanding of themes like appearance versus reality. Perfect for students studying the play.