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107 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
That, trusted home,
Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange. And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's In deepest consequence. |
Banquo
To Macbeth After Ross and Angus tells Macbeth that he is the new Thane of Cawdor. Evil tells parts of the truth, to lead us to destruction and to earn our trust; then they will betray us and will damage us the most. Foreshadowing |
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If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings. My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man That function is smothered in surmise, And nothing is but what is not. |
Macbeth
To himself After Ross and Angus tells Macbeth that he is the new Thane of Cawdor. Imagines murder and is frightened; hopes that Duncan will die naturally, not because of his actions; Macbeth wonders if fate happen without his effort; accepts the inevitable and the oncoming |
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O worthiest cousin,
The sin of my ingratitude even now Was heavy on me. Thou art so far before That swiftest wing of recompense is slow To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved, That the proportion both of thanks and payment Might have been mine! Only I have left to say, More is thy due than more than all can pay. |
Duncan
To Macbeth Duncan trusted and decieved by both Thanes of Cawdor. Dramatic Irony |
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The service and the loyalty I owe
In doing it pays itself. Your highness' part Is to receive our duties, and our duties Are to your throne and state children and servants, Which do but what they should, by doing everything Safe toward your love and honor. |
Macbeth
To Duncan Flowery speech, kiss-ass Dramatic Irony |
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There, if I grow,
The harvest is your own. |
Banquo
To Duncan Short and sincere |
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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. The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. |
Macbeth
To himself After Duncan announces that Malcolm is the heir to the throne. Scared to be overcome with dark intentions, ambitions and desires |
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The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. 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. Make thick my blood. Stop up the access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature's mischief. Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark To cry “Hold, hold!” |
Lady Macbeth
To herself Willing to give up her conscience and human compassion to attain the crown for Macbeth; choosing to ignore her guilt and remorse and wants to be brave and focused on the task at hand Raven, darkness, blood |
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O, never
Shall sun that morrow see! Your face, my thane, is as a book where men May read strange matters. 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. He that's coming Must be provided for; and you shall put This night's great business into my dispatch, Which shall to all our nights and days to come Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. Only look up clear. To alter favor ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me. |
Lady Macbeth
To Macbeth Duncan is coming to Macbeth's castle for a feast dinner. Lady Macbeth convinces him to kill Duncan. She advises Macbeth to hide his intentions, and put up a welcoming and innocent facade. Since his emotions can be read as a book, she urges him to be in a peaceful mood to evade suspicion. Snake (Temptation/Evil) |
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This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses. |
Duncan
To Malcolm, Banquo, Donalbain, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus Dramatic Irony |
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If chance will have me king, why, chance may
crown me Without my stir. |
Macbeth
To himself After Ross and Angus tells Macbeth that he is the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth wonders if fate happen without his effort. |
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Come what come may,
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. |
Macbeth
To himself After Ross and Angus tells Macbeth that he is the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth accepts the inevitable and the oncoming. |
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Two truths are told,
As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme. I thank you, gentlemen. |
Macbeth
To Ross and Angus After Ross and Angus tells Macbeth that he is the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is given the title of Thane of Cawdor after the battle. |
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This supernatural soliciting
Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor. |
Macbeth
To himself After Ross and Angus tells Macbeth that he is the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth wonders about the premonitions of the witches, and whether he should believe them. Part of the prophecy allows Macbeth to continue to pursue the next part; becoming the king. |
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If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well
It were done quickly. If the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch With his surcease success; that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all here, But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases We still have judgment here, that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague th' inventor: this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice To our own lips. 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. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off; And pity, like a naked newborn b |
Macbeth
To himself When Duncan is feasting, and residing in his castle. Wishes that he could commit the murder without consequence, and with finality. But violent actions, concur more violence and justice will be served. Macbeth feels guilty and distubed since he is both Duncan's kinsmen/subject as well as his host. He realizes that the death of Duncan will cause much grief to the people and that the only driving power behind his dark intentions is ambition. |
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Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? And wakes it now, to look so green and pale At what it did so freely? From this time Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would, ” Like the poor cat i' th' adage? |
Lady Macbeth
To Macbeth Encourgaing Macbeth to carry on with the murder by questioning his manhood. Urges him to follow his desires and his ambitions. Animals (cat, beast) |
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What beast was 't, then,
That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place Did then adhere, and yet you would make both. They have made themselves, and that their fitness now Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this. |
Lady Macbeth
To Macbeth Encourgaing Macbeth to carry on with the murder by questioning his manhood. Urges him to follow his desires and his ambitions. Animals (cat, beast) |
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I am settled, and bend up
Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show. False face must hide what the false heart doth know. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth Everyone is almost asleep in Dunsinane and Duncan is resting in his chamber. Macbeth is now motivated and more confident about committing the murder after Lady Macbeth assures him of the effectiveness of her scheme. Macbeth then chides her to continue acting like a good hostess, hiding her dark intentions. |
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Hold, take my sword. There's husbandry in heaven;
Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, And yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers, Restrain in me the cursèd thoughts that nature Gives way to in repose. |
Banquo
To Fleance After the party, Banquo is tired and cannot sleep. Banquo is unnerved by the sudden darkness of the night, and is haunted by nightmares and insomnia. Foreshadowing |
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So I lose none
In seeking to augment it, but still keep My bosom franchised and allegiance clear, I shall be counselled. |
Banquo
To Macbeth After being approached by Macbeth asking for his allegience and loyalty for whatever comes in the future, Banquo agrees; but only if his clear conscience is retained. |
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I think not of them.
Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve, We would spend it in some words upon that business, If you would grant the time. |
Macbeth
To Banquo Macbeth reponds to Banquo after he mentions the dream Banquo has about the witches. Verbal/dramatic irony |
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Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain? I see thee yet, in form as palpable As this which now I draw. Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going, And such an instrument I was to use. Mine eyes are made the fools o' th' other senses, Or else worth all the rest. I see thee still, And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There's no such thing. It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one half-world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtained sleep. Witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecate's offerings, and withered murder, Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, With Ta |
Macbeth
To himself Macbeth is on his way to kill Duncan when he sees a dagger in front of him. Macbeth imagines a bloody dagger that leads him to Duncan's rooms. He is so paranoid and fearful, that he is worried the rocky steps will reveal his direction. |
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I go, and it is done. The bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell. |
Macbeth
To himself Macbeth is continuing to go kill Duncan. |
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But wherefore could not I pronounce “Amen”?
I had most need of blessing, and “Amen” Stuck in my throat. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth After Macbeth kills Duncan, he describes the strange coincidences that happened with the servants. Macbeth is choked with guilt and fear, so much as he could not utter a word of God. |
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One cried, “God bless us!” and “Amen” the other,
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands. List'ning their fear I could not say “Amen,” When they did say “God bless us!” |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth After Macbeth kills Duncan, he describes the strange coincidences that happened with the servants. Macbeth is slowly stepping away from religion and taking a path of devilish deeds. |
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Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, Chief nourisher in life's feast. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is talking to Lady Macbeth about the event. Macbeth thinks it is his conscience, telling him he can't sleep anymore due to his guilt. He is starting to emotionally break down. |
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Still it cried, “Sleep no more!” to all the house.
“Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.” |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is talking to Lady Macbeth about the event. Macbeth thinks it is his conscience, telling him he can't sleep anymore due to his guilt. He is starting to emotionally break down. |
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Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures. 'Tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt. |
Lady Macbeth
To Macbeth After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is talking to Lady Macbeth about the event. Macbeth worries about his virtue and conscience and Lady Macbeth tells him to stifle his thoughts. |
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Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures. 'Tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt. |
Lady Macbeth
To Macbeth After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is talking to Lady Macbeth about the event. Lady Macbeth chides Macbeth about his fear of the supernatural, and suggests that she returns the daggers herself. |
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Whence is that knocking?
How is 't with me when every noise appals me? What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is talking to Lady Macbeth about the event. Macbeth is horrified and paranoid of the discovery of the murder. His guilty conscience is making him frantic. |
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My hands are of your color, but I shame
To wear a heart so white. |
Lady Macbeth
Macbeth Lady Macbeth returns after placing the dagger back into Duncan's room and making it seem as if the servants did the deed. She is also guilt-ridden. Foreshadowing |
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I hear a knocking
At the south entry. Retire we to our chamber. A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then! Your constancy Hath left you unattended. |
Lady Macbeth
Macbeth Lady Macbeth tries to convince Macbeth that a little water will clear his guilty conscience. |
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To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.
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Macbeth
To lady Macbeth It is better to be unconcious, then to be concious of his muderous deed. |
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Knock, knock! Never at quiet. What are you? But this place is too cold for hell. I'll devil-porter it no further. I had thought to have let in some of all professions that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire.
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Porter
To himself Near the morning, a loud knock on the door of the castle wakes Porter up. Porter describes the place is like hell, which implies that the owner of the castle is the devil. |
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The night has been unruly. Where we lay,
Our chimneys were blown down and, as they say, Lamentings heard i' th' air, strange screams of death, And prophesying with accents terrible Of dire combustion and confused events New hatched to the woeful time. The obscure bird Clamored the livelong night. Some say the Earth Was feverous and did shake. |
Lennox
To Macbeth Lennox says that the night has been chaotic with grief in the air, strange screams of death, and terrible voices predicting catastrophes. The owl made noise all night and recites that some people felt that there had been an earthquake. Pathetic Fallacy |
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'Twas a rough night.
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Macbeth
To Lennox Double meaning (weather/murder) Understatement |
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Confusion now hath made his masterpiece.
Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' th' building! |
Macduff
To Macbeth and Lennox Macduff goes to wake Duncan from slumber, and finds him dead. Beliefs that Duncan as a king is a descendant of God. |
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Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight
With a new Gorgon. Do not bid me speak. See, and then speak yourselves. |
Macduff
To Macbeth and Lennox The horror of finding Duncan's corspe is related to a Gorgon's power to freeze people in horror. |
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Had I but died an hour before this chance,
I had lived a blessèd time, for from this instant There's nothing serious in mortality. All is but toys. Renown and grace is dead. The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of. |
Macbeth
To Macduff, Donalbain, Malcolm, Lennox, Banquo, Lady Macbeth Macbeth's speech has overly flowery language and diction. |
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Who can be wise, amazed, temp'rate, and furious,
Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man. Th' expedition of my violent love Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan, His silver skin laced with his golden blood, And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature For ruin's wasteful entrance; there, the murderers, Steeped in the colors of their trade, their daggers Unmannerly breeched with gore. Who could refrain, That had a heart to love, and in that heart Courage to make 's love known? |
Macbeth
To Macduff, Donalbain, Malcolm, Lennox, Banquo, Lady Macbeth Macbeth describes the grief and rage he felt when seeing Duncan's corspe, that drove him to kill the alleged-murderers/ servants. Macbeth's speech has overly flowery language and diction. |
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What should be spoken here, where our fate,
Hid in an auger-hole, may rush and seize us? Let's away. Our tears are not yet brewed. |
Donalbain
To Malcolm Donalbain fears for their safety, and advises Malcolm that they should care for their safety before mourning for Duncan's death. |
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There's no art
To find the mind's construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built An absolute trust. |
Duncan
To Malcolm Duncan trusted and decieved by both Thanes of Cawdor. Dramatic Irony |
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Nor our strong sorrow
Upon the foot of motion. |
Malcolm
To Donalbain Malcolm agrees to take care of their safety before turning their grief into action. |
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What will you do? Let's not consort with them.
To show an unfelt sorrow is an office Which the false man does easy. I'll to England. |
Malcolm
To Donalbain Malcolm says that it is easy for liars to show fake sympathy. |
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To Ireland, I. Our separated fortune
Shall keep us both the safer. Where we are, There's daggers in men's smiles. The near in blood, The nearer bloody. |
Donalbain
To Malcolm Donalbain agrees with Malcolm and says that those who are show smiles and are friendly, might stab you in the back. Also, that closest friends and relatives are most likely to murder them. |
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Ha, good father,
Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with man's act, Threatens his bloody stage. By th' clock 'tis day, And yet dark night strangles the travelling 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? |
Ross
To Old Man Outside Dunsinane, Ross is talking to Old Man about the recent tragic events. Ross thinks that the king is linked to the sun, and with his death, the sun has covered up creating an eclispe. This is because nature is out of order, as the King is the descendant of God. |
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'Tis unnatural,
Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last, A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place, Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed. |
Old Man
To Ross Outside Dunsinane, Ross is talking to Old Man about the recent tragic events. Old Man agrees with Ross, and mentions how the falcon was killed by the order because nature is out of order. |
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And Duncan's horses—a thing most strange and certain—
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would Make war with mankind. |
Ross
To Old Man Ross agrees with Old man, and mentions how the horses escapes their stables, rebellious against their master's commands. |
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'Tis said they eat each other.
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Old Man
To Ross Ross agrees with Old man, and mentions how the horses escapes their stables, rebellious against their master's commands. |
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Well, may you see things well done there. Adieu,
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new! |
Macduff
To Ross and Old Man Outside Macbeth's castle, Macduff is planning to go to Fife and not attend Macbeth's ceremony at Scone. Macduff hopes that the new King will be better, and create a stronger country. |
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To be thus is nothing,
But to be safely thus. |
Macbeth
To himself After Banquo leaves, and when Macbeth lets the feast carry forth and ponders to himself about the threat of Banquo. It is easy to be King, but it is harder to stay as King. |
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But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared. 'Tis much he dares, And to that dauntless temper of his mind He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being I do fear, and under him My genius is rebuked, as it is said Mark Antony's was by Caesar. He chid the sisters When first they put the name of king upon me And bade them speak to him. Then, prophetlike, They hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown And put a barren scepter in my grip, Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding. If 't be so, For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered; Put rancors in the vessel of my peace Only for them; and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! |
Macbeth
To himself Macbeth is wary of Banquo and his wisdom, and apparent invincibility. He also realizes that eventhough he committed murder to become King, he has no sons to succeed him. Instead, he has sacraficed his safety and conscience to give the throne to Banquo's children as the prophecy stated. |
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Rather than so, come fate into the list,
And champion me to th' utterance. Who's there? |
Macbeth
To himself Macbeth realizes that the throne that he gave up much for, will be given to Banquo's children as the prophecy states. He decides to go against/challenge fate. |
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Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men,
As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves are clept All by the name of dogs. The valued file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, The housekeeper, the hunter, every one According to the gift which bounteous nature Hath in him closed, whereby he does receive Particular addition, from the bill That writes them all alike. And so of men. Now, if you have a station in the file, Not i' th' worst rank of manhood, say 't, And I will put that business in your bosoms, Whose execution takes your enemy off, Grapples you to the heart and love of us, Who wear our health but sickly in his life, Which in his death were perfect. |
Macbeth
To the two murderers Macbeth convinces the murderers that their misfortunes were caused by Banquo. He then relates them to the qualities of dogs, and questions if they are of good breed. If so, Macbeth tells them that he will inform them of the plan which will get rid of Banquo. |
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I did so, and went further, which is now
Our point of second meeting. Do you find Your patience so predominant in your nature That you can let this go? Are you so gospeled To pray for this good man and for his issue, Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave And beggared yours forever? |
Macbeth
To the two murderers Macbeth questions the extent of virtue and forgivance of the murderers, and whether they are willing to excuse Banquo who they were led to believe destroyed their lives and pushed them to poverty. |
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I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world Have so incensed that I am reckless what I do to spite the world. |
Second murderer
To Macbeth |
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And I another
So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune, That I would set my life on any chance, To mend it or be rid on 't. |
First murderer
To Macbeth |
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So is he mine; and in such bloody distance
That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life. And though I could With barefaced power sweep him from my sight And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, For certain friends that are both his and mine, Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall Who I myself struck down. And thence it is, That I to your assistance do make love, Masking the business from the common eye For sundry weighty reasons. |
Macbeth
To murderers Macbeth explains to the murderers why he himself, can not commit the murder. Banquo's death will be mourned by the public, and he can not afford the lose the people's favor. |
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It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul's flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out tonight. |
Macbeth
To himself |
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Naught's had, all's spent,
Where our desire is got without content. 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. |
Lady Macbeth
To herself If you get what you want and you're still not happy, you've spent everything and gained nothing. It's better to be the person who gets murdered than to be the killer and be tormented with anxiety. |
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We have scorched the snake, not killed it.
She'll close and be herself whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth We have slashed the snake but not killed it. It will heal and be as good as new, and we'll be threatened by its fangs once again. |
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But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly. 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. Duncan is in his grave. After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. Treason has done his worst; nor steel nor poison, Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing Can touch him further. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth Macbeth is constantly afraid of getting poisoned or killed. He is having problems with sleeping because of his paranoia and fear. Macbeth laments that, being dead like Duncan is better because at least he is at peace. |
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Must lave our honors in these flattering streams,
And make our faces vizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth Macbeth tells her that they are in a dangerous situation and they must flatter Banquo and hide their true feelings/intentions. |
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Good things of day begin to droop and drowse;
Whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse. Thou marvel'st at my words: but hold thee still. Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. So, prithee, go with me. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth Macbeth Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth's intentions with Banquo, but Macbeth refuses to tell her until the deed has been done. He also laments that evil deeds concur you to commit more evil deeds. Role reversal; Macbeth is now the one who plots and motivates himself to commit these evil deeds. |
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Let it come down.
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First murderer
To Banquo, or to the second/third murderer Double meaning; Banquo says that it will rain while the first murderer intends for the swords to come down upon Banquo and Fleance |
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'Tis better thee without than he within.
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Macbeth
To Murderer I'd rather see his blood splattered on your face than flowing through his veins. |
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Then comes my fit again. I had else been perfect,
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock, As broad and general as the casing air. But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in To saucy doubts and fears.—But Banquo's safe? |
Macbeth
To Murderer Macbeth feels that the throne is threatened, and that he is trapped by the dangers presented in keeping the throne |
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There the grown serpent lies. The worm that's fled
Hath nature that in time will venom breed; No teeth for th' present. |
Macbeth
To Murderer Macbeth is wary about Fleance, and relates him to a young snake. One that has not yet grown fangs, but will become dangerous later on. |
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Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake
Thy gory locks at me. |
Macbeth
To Ghost |
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Blood hath been shed ere now, i' th' olden time,
Ere humane statute purged the gentle weal; Ay, and since too, murders have been performed Too terrible for the ear. 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. This is more strange Than such a murder is. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth During the feast, Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo in his seat and is delirious from what he sees. In the past, those murdered, stayed dead. But now, they come back to haunt you, this business is stranger than murder. |
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What man dare, I dare.
Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The armed rhinoceros, or th' Hyrcan tiger; Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble. Or be alive again, And dare me to the desert with thy sword. If trembling I inhabit then, protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal mockery, hence! |
Macbeth
To Ghost Macbeth exclaims that he is not afraid of beasts and battles; but he is afraid of ghosts. Urges the ghost/hallucination to go. |
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Can such things be,
And overcome us like a summer's cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange Even to the disposition that I owe, When now I think you can behold such sights, And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks, When mine is blanched with fear. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth, Lennox, Lords Macbeth is shocked by everyone's calm composure, when he himself is distraught at seeing the ghost. |
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It will have blood, they say. Blood will have blood.
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Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth The dead will have their revenge and death will concur more deaths. |
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I will tomorrow—
And betimes I will—to the weird sisters. More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know, By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good, All causes shall give way. I am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er. Strange things I have in head, that will to hand, Which must be acted ere they may be scanned. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth Macbeth plans to talk to the witches, and ask about the worst to come. He has plans to concieve after talking to the witches. Macbeth values his own safety the most now. He claims that he has waded so far in the river of blood; that it is as difficult for him to go back to being good, as to keep on killing people. |
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Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse
Is the initiate fear that wants hard use. We are yet but young in deed. |
Macbeth
To Lady Macbeth Macbeth claims that his delusions come from his inexperience, since they are both still new to crime. |
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As by the strength of their illusion
Shall draw him on to his confusion. He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear. And you all know, security Is mortals' chiefest enemy. |
Hecate
To Three Witches When I work it over with magic spells, the drop will produce magical spirits that will trick Macbeth with illusions. He will be fooled into thinking he is greater than fate, he will mock death, and he will think he is above wisdom, grace, and fear. As you all know, overconfidence is man's greatest enemy. |
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My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,
Which can interpret farther. Only I say Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan Was pitied of Macbeth. Marry, he was dead. And the right-valiant Banquo walked too late, Whom, you may say, if 't please you, Fleance killed, For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too late. Who cannot want the thought how monstrous It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain To kill their gracious father? Damnèd fact! How it did grieve Macbeth! Did he not straight In pious rage the two delinquents tear That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep? Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too, For 'twould have angered any heart alive To hear the men deny 't. So that, I say, He has borne all things well. And I do think That had he Duncan's sons under his key— As, an't please heaven, he shall not—they should find What 'twere to kill a father. So should Fleance. But, peace! For from broad words, an |
Lennox
To Lord Sarcastic tone |
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Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn
The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. |
Second Apparition
To Macbeth Macbeth goes to the witches to get answers about his future adn fate The second spirit explains how no one born naturally/vaginally can harm Macbeth |
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Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him. |
Third Apparition
To Macbeth Don't even worry about who hates you, who resents you, and who conspires against you. Macbeth will never be defeated until Birnam Wood marches to fight you at Dunsinane Hill. |
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I will be satisfied. Deny me this,
And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know. Why sinks that cauldron? And what noise is this? |
Macbeth
To Witches Irony |
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Macbeth-> Lennox
When Macbeth finds out that Macduff fled to England. |
Lady Macduff-> Ross
When Lady Macduff is upset that Macduff left her, the children and his castle for England. |
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Donalbain-> Ireland
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Malcolm-> England
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This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,
Was once thought honest. You have loved him well. |
Malcolm
To Macduff Macduff arrives at England and tries to persuade Malcolm to create an army to overthrow Macbeth Malcolm makes Macbeth a tyrant who once was honest. |
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He hath not touched you yet.
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Malcolm
To Macduff Macbeth says that Macbeth has not harmed Macduff yet. Dramatic Irony |
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Ay, sir; there are a crew of wretched souls
That stay his cure. Their malady convinces The great assay of art, but at his touch— Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand— They presently amend. |
Doctor
To Macduff A crowd of sick people is waiting for him to heal them. Their illness confounds the most advanced techniques of modern medicine, but when King Edward touches them, they heal immediately because of the power granted to him by heaven. |
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'Tis called the evil.
A most miraculous work in this good king, Which often since my here-remain in England I have seen him do. How he solicits heaven, Himself best knows, but strangely visited people, All swoll'n and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye, The mere despair of surgery, he cures, Hanging a golden stamp about their necks, Put on with holy prayers. And, 'tis spoken, To the succeeding royalty he leaves The healing benediction. With this strange virtue, He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy, And sundry blessings hang about his throne, That speak him full of grace. |
Malcolm
Macduff After meeting the doctor at England, Macduff is interested in the King of England, and his healing powers. Malcolm describes King Edward as a good king, different/opposite from Macbeth. Character Foils |
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Alas, poor country!
Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot Be called our mother, but our grave, where nothing, But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile; Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air Are made, not marked; where violent sorrow seems A modern ecstasy. The dead man's knell Is there scarce asked for who, and good men's lives Expire before the flowers in their caps, Dying or ere they sicken. |
Ross
To Macduff Scotland is no longer the land where we were born; it's the land where we'll die. Where no one ever smiles except for the fool who knows nothing. Where sighs, groans, and shrieks rip through the air but no one notices. Where violent sorrow is a common emotion. When the funeral bells ring, people no longer ask who died. Good men die before the flowers in their caps wilt. They die before they even fall sick. |
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No, they were well at peace when I did leave 'em.
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Ross
To Macduff Double meaning; at peace and death |
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Merciful heaven!
What, man! Ne'er pull your hat upon your brows. Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak Whispers the o'erfraught heart and bids it break. |
Malcolm
To Macduff Malcolm urges Macduff to openly display his grief after he finds out that his family is slaughtered by Macbeth's orders |
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Be comforted.
Let's make us med'cines of our great revenge, To cure this deadly grief. Be this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief Convert to anger. Blunt not the heart, enrage it. |
Malcolm
To Macduff Malcolm urges Macduff channel his grief into anger against Macbeth in battle. |
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Why, it stood by her. She has light by her continually. 'Tis her command.
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Gentlewoman
To Doctor The Doctor and a Gentlewoman are witsnessing the sleepwalking conditions of Lady Macbeth. The Gentlewoman describes how Lady Macbeth is always holding a candle. Lady Macbeth once willingly embraces darkness, but now he wants the light to be constantly with her. |
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Out, damned spot! Out, I say!—One, two. Why, then, 'tis time to do 't. Hell is
murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him. |
Lady Macbeth
To Herself Lady Macbeth is confessing to the murder of Duncan, and attempts to wash away the blood on her hands. |
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Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten
this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh! |
Lady Macbeth
To Herself Lady Macbeth is confessing to the murders of which she was involved with, and attempts to wash away the blood on her hands. |
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Foul whisp'rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets. More needs she the divine than the physician. |
Doctor
To Gentlewoman The Doctor thinks that when one has a guilty conscience, it will resurface subconciously. Unnatural acts will concur supernatural acts, sleep walking. He states that Lady Macbeth does not need medicine, he needs a priest to confess her evil deeds to. |
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The English power is near, led on by Malcolm,
His uncle Siward and the good Macduff. Revenges burn in them, for their dear causes Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm Excite the mortified man. |
Menteith
To Caithness, Lennox, Angus The army is on its waytowards Birnam Woods to join Malcolm's forces. The need for revenge is so great, that it would excite a dead man. |
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Now does he feel
His secret murders sticking on his hands. Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach. Those he commands move only in command, Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe Upon a dwarfish thief. |
Angus
To Menteith, Caithness, Lennox The army is on its waytowards Birnam Woods to join Malcolm's forces. Angues explains that the murders and treachery Macbeth has committed are now presenting its consequence. Angus feels that Macbeth is an unfit tyrant, a midget trying to fit clothes to grand for him. |
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Well, march we on,
To give obedience where 'tis truly owed. Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal, And with him pour we in our country's purge Each drop of us. |
Caithness
To Menteith, Lennox, Angus Caithness believes that Malcolm is the medicine that will cure Scotland, and is willing to spill his blood to support him. |
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Or so much as it needs,
To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. Make we our march towards Birnam. |
Lennox
To Mentieth, Caithness, Angus |
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Bring me no more reports. Let them fly all.
Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane I cannot taint with fear. What's the boy Malcolm? Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus: “Fear not, Macbeth. No man that's born of woman Shall e'er have power upon thee.” Then fly, false thanes, And mingle with the English epicures. The mind I sway by and the heart I bear Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear. |
Macbeth
To Doctors and attendants Macbeth is overly confident, and mocks the incoming threat of Malcolm and the English army. |
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Go, prick thy face and over-red thy fear,
Thou lily-livered boy. What soldiers, patch? Death of thy soul! Those linen cheeks of thine Are counselors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face? |
Macbeth
To Servant Macbeth is overly confident, and mocks the incoming threat of Malcolm and the English army. |
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I am sick at heart,
When I behold—I say!—This push Will cheer me ever, or disseat me now. I have lived long enough. My way of life Is fall'n into the sere, the yellow leaf, And that which should accompany old age, As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have, but, in their stead, Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath Which the poor heart would fain deny and dare not. |
Macbeth
To Seyton Macbeth acknowledges that his life is ending, and he will never attain honor, love, obedience, and loyal friends that come with old age. He also is aware that people pretend to love and honor him, but they secretly hate him. He would gladly end his life, but he can not bring himself to do it. |
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Throw physic to the dogs; I'll none of it.If thou couldst, cast
The water of my land, find her disease, And purge it to a sound and pristine health, I would applaud thee to the very echo, That should applaud again.—Pull 't off, I say.— What rhubarb, senna, or what purgative drug, Would scour these English hence? Hear'st thou of them? |
Macbeth
To Doctor Asks the doctor to diagnose the problem within his country, and to find a cure. |
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Were I from Dunsinane away and clear,
Profit again should hardly draw me here. |
Doctor
To himself. The Doctor is saying how if he was free of Dunsmaine, no amount of money would draw him back. |
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I have almost forgot the taste of fears.
The time has been my senses would have cooled To hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir As life were in 't. I have supped full with horrors. Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts Cannot once start me. |
Macbeth
To Seyton Macbeth has lost his sensitivity, and is not longer afraid. Horrible things are so familiar that they can't startle him. |
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She should have died hereafter.
There would have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. |
Macbeth
To Seyton Macbeth is describing how Lady Macbeth's death was too soon, but inevitable as all deaths are. He describes life alike to an actor, who comes on stage, plays his part and leaves. Macbeth finds life meaningless. |
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If this which he avouches does appear,
There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here. I 'gin to be aweary of the sun, And wish th' estate o' th' world were now undone.— Ring the alarum-bell!—Blow, wind! Come, wrack! At least we'll die with harness on our back. |
Macbeth
To Messenger Macbeth realizes the trickery of the witches, but nonetheless; he accepts his fate and goes to fight with courage. |
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Why should I play the Roman fool and die
On mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes Do better upon them. |
Macbeth
To himself Dunsmaine is nearly won over by Malcolm. |
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This, and whatever else we are called to do by God, we will do at the right time and in the right place. So I thank you all, and I invite each and every one of you to come watch me be crowned king of Scotland at Scone.
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Malcolm
To Macduff, Siward or Ross Malcolm describes how time will make us forget these wounds and tragic events. He invites everyone to meet at Scone to crown him as the new King of Scotland. |