Full Quote Analysis for Every Act - Macbeth

7/27/2019 Full Quote Analysis for Every Act - Macbeth

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MACBETH QUOTE ANALYSIS

Frances Coronel--Bell 3-- Mrs. Bozza

Act: 1 Scene: 3 Line(s): 49-51

Quote (written in full)-All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!

Theme Present- Fate (destiny) v. free will (human choice)

Motif Present- Darkness

Speaker- The three witches (one after the other)

Audience- Macbeth

Setting- Thunder, witches are dancing around and have a charm ready

Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-

In a confrontation to Macbeth and Banquo on a heath, the threewitches predict Macbeth will become Thane and Cawdor and King of Scotland.This entire quote starts the action of the play as one can imagine thunder inthe background as the witches completely decide to reveal the fate ofMacbeth. With this quote, the reader is put in the darkness as to whether itwas free will that will later make these prophecies come true later in the storyor was in fact all fate intended to happen in the first place. The reader mustalso wonder how Macbeths life would have been different if the witchesactually didnt tell him anything at all. I believe the witches turned somethingthat should have been free will into ambitious like fate.


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Quote (written in full)-Gainst nature still.Thriftless ambition, that will ravin upThine own lifes means! Then tis most likeThe sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth

Theme Present- Ambition as a catalyst for corruption

Motif Present- Blood/Violence

Speaker- Ross talking about Duncans sons Malcolm and Donalbain

Audience- Macduff

Setting- Outside Macbeths castle with Ross, Macduff, and Old Man present.

Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-Ross implies here ambition leads to extremely unnatural acts, which wouldexplain the suspicion towards Duncans sons. He describes ambition as acannibal that goes against its own nature by killing its own father, the one whogave it life in the 1st place. This connects the violence of Macbeths killingsnow and later will his ambition that will eventually ruin him. It must be notedalso that even if Ross knew about Macbeth actually being the murderer, thespeech would be the same as Duncan has had Macbeth as a royal servant/subject and had a trusting bond with them and therefore gave him life in thefirst place sort of.


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Quote (written in full)-Tis not for you to hear what I can speak:The repetition, in a womans ear,Would murder as it fell.

Theme Present- Femininity linked to compassion/Masculinity linked to cruelty


Speaker- Macduff

Audience- Lady Macbeth

Setting- Inside Macbeths castle, after everyone has been alerted ofDuncans murder

Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-Lady Macbeth is seen as a woman far too fragile/sensitive/dainty as Macduffrefuses to explain that Duncan has been murdered. Macduff obviously thinkswoman are just far too dainty for such news and that Lady Macbeth, becauseshe is a lady, is above suspicion. Both are false because Lady Macbeth is theexact opposite of dainty and can even be seen as more masculine and toughacting than her husband. She exhibits more violence in her speeches as well.Woman here are viewed as compassionate and therefore could not be themaster planner of the entire murder (like Lady Macbeth). Men, however, arelinked to the murder at hand, as Macduff automatically excludes woman from

being involved in such things because they are ladies...


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Quote (written in full)-Ah, good father,Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act,Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock, 'tis day,And yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp:Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,That darkness does the face of earth entomb,When living light should kiss it?

Theme Present- Appearance vs. Reality, Contrast between effective kingshipand tyranny

Motif Present- Darkness

Speaker- Ross

Audience- Old Man

Setting- Outside Macbeths Castle

Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-Ross questions the Old Man on how nature is acting now, probably in responseto the kings murder. Ross feels darkness is filling the sky even though its themiddle of the day, foreshadowing the violence that is to come. It seems life onearth at all has been halted as Macbeth steps forward as king and murderer.Shame is also used when Ross tries to distinguish why darkness covers earth

when its supposed to be with light. There is ambiguity in the current situationat hand obviously to Ross but the reality states the darkness would symbolizeMacbeths act of violence and ambition.


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Quote (written in full)-If't be so,For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind,For them the gracious Duncan have I murther'd,Put rancors in the vessel of my peaceOnly for them, and mine eternal jewelGiven to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings -the seed of Banquo kings!Rather than so, come, Fate, into the list,And champion me to the utterance!

Theme Present- Ambition as a catalyst for corruption, Fate (destiny) v. freewill (human choice)

Motif Present- Planting

Speaker- Macbeth

Audience- Soliloquy

Setting- Inside Macbeths castle

Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-Feeling guilty after murdering Duncan and crowned king, Macbeth decides toignore how he felt during the prophecy of the witches and challenge thedespicable fate as he unfortunately realizes that since hes King, Banquos sons

will probably be kings too. His ambition has led him into a struggle against apredetermined future who no longer likes the idea of-so now he is corruptedwithout validation. He wants more free will obviously as he feels Fate has hadtoo much control over him as he realizes that Banquos sons will eventually takeover with their seed. One could argue Macbeth harvested the very seedmentioned in the quote by trying to quicken a fate oddly bestowed to him.


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Quote (written in full)-LADY MACBETHWhat's to be done?MACBETHBe innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,Till thou applaud the deed.

Theme Present- Masculinity linked to cruelty, Violence perpetuating violence

Motif Present- Blood/violence

Speaker- Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth

Audience- Between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth


Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-This is the first time Macbeth decides to exclude Lady Macbeth from hisplans for murder. He decides to not let her know of how he is going to murderBanquo to rid himself of the fear of discovery. Usually, Lady Macbeth would bethe catalyst and decision maker in the entire situation but now it seemsMacbeths new masculinity has launched a new violence perpetuating violencematter where he can now take the violence into his own hands.


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Quote (written in full)-[] For mine own goodAll causes shall give way. I am in bloodStepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more,Returning were as tedious as go o'er.

Theme Present- Ambition as a catalyst for corruption, Violence perpetuating

violence


Speaker- Macbeth

Audience- Between him and Lady Macbeth


Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-Macbeth uses an analogy of wading too far in a bloody river to express how hefeels he will never be able to turn back from what he did. It is clear that withthe huge ambition drive, he is now officially corrupt as he is selfishly willing todo anything needed to save himself and through the murder of Banquo hasmade it clear that it is morally easier for him to go on with killing. He nowlooks for his best interests and is willing to commit any act of violence whichwill just lead him to more blood rivers, in a sense.


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Quote (written in full)-FIRST APPARITION [an armed head]Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff,Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough

Theme Present-Fate (destiny) v. free will (human choice), Ambition as acatalyst for corruption

Motif Present- Ghosts/ Hallucinations

Speaker- First Apparition

Audience- Macbeth

Setting- Inside the witches cavern

Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-Macbeth, wanting to see himself in security and far away from potentialdanger, is blinded by what possible consequences Macduff could bring to him.The armored head hallucination, as we learn later, is actually his severed headthat Macduff himself decapitates! Because he is so attentive to his ambitiousdesires, he ignores all the negative signs he is in danger which raises the ideaof how the witches planned this entire scenario in order to trick him andfurther ruin his free will and perhaps maneuver his fate?


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Quote (written in full)- .MACDUFFLet us ratherHold fast the mortal sword, and like good menBestride our downfall'n birthdom. Each new mornNew widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrowsStrike heaven on the face, that it resounds

As if it felt with Scotland and yell'd outLike syllable of dolor.

Theme Present-Masculinity linked to cruelty, Violence perpetuating violence

Motif Present- Blood/violence

Speaker- Macduff

Audience- Malcolm

Setting- England. Before the kings palace

Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-Malcolm, before Macduff responds, suggests they weep since he feels there isnothing to be done about Macbeths tyrannic reign (hes actually testing hisloyalty but thats irrelevant). Macduff then insists that like good men , theymust hold their stand and fight and defend their native country. Violence isdecided to replace grief from previous violence of Macbeth. And Macduff says

like good men they should fight, linking masculinity to cruelty and violence theyfeel towards Macbeth.


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Quote (written in full)- .MALCOLMIt is myself I mean: in whom I knowAll the particulars of vice so graftedThat, when they shall be open'd, black MacbethWill seem as pure as snow, and the poor stateEsteem him as a lamb, being compared

With my confineless harms.

Theme Present-Appearance vs. reality, Contrast between effective kingshipand tyranny

Motif Present- Animals (lamb), Darkness (black Macbeth)

Speaker- Malcolm

Audience- Macduff

Setting- England. Before the kings palace

Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-Malcolm makes sure he exaggerates his image of being a traitor even thoughhis underlying intentions are noble and trying to test the loyalty of Macduff toScotland. He pretends here he will act worse than Macbeth, to the pointwhere Macbeth will be looked at as a lamb in comparison with his treachery.He shows how he can also be a tyrannical person, going so far as to give a

contrast between light and dark, making Macbeth act as the pure snow incomparison while he is dark/black (like Macbeth actually is but Malcolm ispretending to act like).


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Quote (written in full)- .GENTLEWOMANSince his majesty went into the field, I have seenher rise from her bed, throw her night-gown uponher, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it,write upon't, read it, afterwards seal it, and againreturn to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.DOCTORA great perturbation in nature, to receive at once

the benefit of sleep, and do the effects ofwatching! In this slumbery agitation, besides herwalking and other actual performances, what, at anytime, have you heard her say?

Theme Present-Femininity linked to compassion, Appearance vs RealityMotif Present- Sleep (lessness), ClothingSpeaker- Gentlewoman and DoctorAudience- Conversation between Gentlewoman and DoctorSetting-

Dunsinane. In the castle.

Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-Unlike her role as the man in the relationship, Lady Macbeth is now anenfeebled woman who sleepwalks though the castle, mutters to herself, andtries to wash off imaginary blood. The roles are completely reestablished, asLady Macbeth now plays the weak minded guilt ridden female and Macbeth nowplays the ruthless overly ambitious power mongrel. Lady Macbeth, once socentral to the play, is now a marginal character with such weakness. When oneis not guilt ridden, one sleeps well which is why Lady Macbeth is probably

sleepwalking and even further trying to hide her guilt by sealing her nightgownupon herself, making herself feel a tiny more secure.


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Quote (written in full)- .GENTLEWOMANIt is an accustomed action with her, to seem thuswashing her hands: I have known her continue inthis a quarter of an hour.LADY MACBETHYet here's a spot.

Theme Present-Appearance vs. reality


Speaker- Lady Macbeth and Gentlewoman

Audience- Lady Macbeth doesnt know the Gentlewoman and the Doctor canhear her

Setting- Dunsinane. In the castle.

Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-Consumed by her guilt, Lady Macbeth starts going a little... crazy. Shesleepwalks throughout the castle and washes away imaginary blood from herhands as if the blood itself was some sort of deadly fungus that just wouldntgo away. The deadly fungus being the fast crippling of her power and moralityoverall. It seems even though she at first felt it would be easy to wash awaythe guilt, it is clear now that through violence, the terrifying overrules the

even worse reality.


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Quote (written in full)- .MACBETHShe should have died hereafter;There would have been a time for such a word.To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,Creeps in this petty pace from day to dayTo the last syllable of recorded timeAnd all our yesterdays have lighted foolsThe way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor playerThat struts and frets his hour upon the stageAnd then is heard no more: it is a taleTold by an idiot, full of sound and fury,Signifying nothing.

Theme Present-Ambition as a catalyst for corruptionMotif Present- Blood/ViolenceSpeaker- MacbethAudience-

SeytonSetting- Dunsinane. Within the castle.

Significance/Analysis (connecting theme to motif)-Here karma plays in quite well as a warning for those overly ambitious.Macbeth was told Lady Macbeth committed suicide and soon he will be toldthat his death is nearing fast. Macbeth sums up his misery by saying that he isnothing more than a character in a story that has absolutely no meaning. It isobvious he is self-conscious about his selfish deed and is obviously full ofdespair of the violence he took just to get to the stop where he lacks any

importance anyways and still remains a corrupted soul.

Full Quote Analysis for Every Act - Macbeth

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