Macbeth Quotations

Quotations! You will be asked to translate quotations from Macbeth on your exam. Each slide contains a quotation, as well as information about: A) The speaker B) The speaker’s audience C) The context of the scene at the time the quotation appears D) A translation of the quotation

“He’s here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself.”

A) The speaker is Macbeth. “He’s here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself.” A) The speaker is Macbeth. B) He’s speaking to himself; this is during an aside. C) At this point, Macbeth is grappling with his tentative decision to kill Duncan; the king has recently gone to bed. D) “Duncan trusts me for two reasons tonight – not only am I his friend and subject, but I am also his host. The host should protect his guests from danger, not kill them.”

"Bring forth men-children only "Bring forth men-children only. For thy undaunted mettle should Compose Nothing but males."

A) The speaker is Macbeth. B) He’s speaking to Lady Macbeth. "Bring forth men-children only. For thy undaunted mettle should Compose Nothing but males." A) The speaker is Macbeth. B) He’s speaking to Lady Macbeth. C) Lady Macbeth has convinced Macbeth that their plot cannot fail. D) “Let’s hope you only have sons, for your masculine spirit will never fit a daughter!”

"To beguile the time, Look like the time "To beguile the time, Look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue. Look like th' innocent flower, But be the serpent under 't."

A) The speaker is Lady Macbeth. B) She’s speaking to Macbeth. "To beguile the time, Look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue. Look like th' innocent flower, But be the serpent under 't." A) The speaker is Lady Macbeth. B) She’s speaking to Macbeth. C) Macbeth has arrived home, and Lady Macbeth is trying to convince him to kill Duncan. D) “Look normal if you want to fool the others. Act friendly, say friendly things, and look innocent – but be cunning and ruthless underneath it all.”

“The Prince of Cumberland “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down or else o’erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.”

A) The speaker is Macbeth. B) He’s speaking to himself. “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down or else o’erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.” A) The speaker is Macbeth. B) He’s speaking to himself. C) Duncan has announced that Malcolm (not Donalbain) will be his heir. D) “I have to defeat/kill Malcolm if I ever want to be king, because he’s standing in my way. I hope no one can tell what I’m planning to do to Duncan…”

"Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty."

A) The speaker is Lady Macbeth. B) She’s speaking to herself. "Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty." A) The speaker is Lady Macbeth. B) She’s speaking to herself. C) Lady Macbeth has recently received a letter from Macbeth about the witches’ prophecy. D) “Come, gods, and rid me of all traces of feminine sweetness – fill my soul with enough evil to plan what must be done.”

"No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest "No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth."

A) The speaker is Duncan. B) He’s speaking to Ross. "No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth." A) The speaker is Duncan. B) He’s speaking to Ross. C) The wounded officer has just given a report on Macbeth’s and Banquo’s victories over the rebel/Norwegian armies. D) “The Thane of Cawdor will never trick us again. Go find Macbeth and tell him that the Thane will be executed – and that he can take his place.”

"Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promised "Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promised. Yet I do fear thy nature; It is too full o' th' milk of human Kindness To catch the nearest way."

A) The speaker is Lady Macbeth. B) She’s speaking to herself. "Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promised. Yet I do fear thy nature; It is too full o' th' milk of human Kindness To catch the nearest way." A) The speaker is Lady Macbeth. B) She’s speaking to herself. C) She has just received the (previously mentioned) letter from Macbeth. D) “My husband, you’ve already achieved what they said you would, and will become king if you want to do what is necessary. But I fear you won’t want to go that far; you’re too kind at heart to be so ruthless.”

“O, proper stuff. This is the very painting of your fear “O, proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear. This is the air-drawn dagger which you said Led you to Duncan.”

A) The speaker is Lady Macbeth. B) She’s speaking to Macbeth. “O, proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear. This is the air-drawn dagger which you said Led you to Duncan.” A) The speaker is Lady Macbeth. B) She’s speaking to Macbeth. C) Macbeth is terrified by the sight of Banquo’s ghost, which is invisible to everyone else. D) “Your fears are imaginary! This is just like the dagger you swore you saw before you killed Duncan.”

"The time has been That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end. But now they rise again With twenty mortal murders on their crowns And push us from our stools."

A) The speaker is Macbeth. "The time has been That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end. But now they rise again With twenty mortal murders on their crowns And push us from our stools." A) The speaker is Macbeth. B) He’s actually speaking to himself, although Lady Macbeth is listening disgustedly. C) Macbeth is panicking after seeing the aforementioned ghost. D) “Men used to stay dead when you killed them. Now they rise up, wounds and all, to torment us while we live.”

“Thou hast it now – King, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the Weïrd Women promised, and I fear Thou played’st most foully for ‘t.”

A) The speaker is Banquo. B) He’s speaking to himself. “Thou hast it now – King, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the Weïrd Women promised, and I fear Thou played’st most foully for ‘t.” A) The speaker is Banquo. B) He’s speaking to himself. C) Banquo is thinking about Macbeth’s recent rise to power. D) “Everything the witches promised has come true, Macbeth – but I suspect you took matters into your own hands.”

“I am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er.”

A) The speaker is Macbeth. B) He’s speaking to Lady Macbeth. “I am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er.” A) The speaker is Macbeth. B) He’s speaking to Lady Macbeth. C) The two are evaluating the threat Macduff potentially poses to their power. D) “I’ve killed so many to get this far that I feel like I can’t stop; going back is just as hard as going forward.”

"To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus "To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared."

A) The speaker is Macbeth. "To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared." A) The speaker is Macbeth. B) He’s speaking to himself (his servant has just left the room). C) Macbeth has recently arranged a meeting with convicted murderers – the men he wants to hire to kill Banquo and Fleance. D) “None of this is worth having if I can’t enjoy having it. I’m deeply afraid of Banquo, and his king-like streak makes him dangerous.”

"Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy."

A) The speaker is Macbeth. B) He’s speaking to Lady Macbeth. "Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy." A) The speaker is Macbeth. B) He’s speaking to Lady Macbeth. C) Macbeth is bemoaning his increasing paranoia – he can’t enjoy ruling because he’s terrified and guilty. D) “It’s better to rest in peace than live and be haunted by the things we’ve done.”