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Macbeth Quotations and Literary Themes - Coggle Diagram
Macbeth Quotations and Literary Themes
Religion
Heresy and the Devil
"or memorise another Golgotha"
- Captain refers to religion and Christ's crucifiction within the first few scenes. He is discussing Macbeth so perhaps this foreshadows Macbeth's acts against God.
"What, can the devil speak true?"
- Banquo implies that the witches themselves are a creation of the devil, or the embodiment of the devil himself.
"look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under't"
- Connotations to the Garden of Eden and betrayal of God.
"For it is a knell, that summons thee to heaven or to hell"
- Reference to the afterlife, Macbeth is adamant that the murder will take place.
"Witchcraft celebrates pale Hecate's off'rings"
- Macbeth shows a further connection with witchcraft, an act which is condemned as Satanic
"I could not say 'Amen' when they did say 'God bless us'"
- Macbeth can no longer express his faith, he believes that he has strayed too far from God.
"In the name of Beelzebub"
- The porter's references to the Devil and the Gates of Hell being present at the castle suggests the degree to which Macbeth has crossed God.
"who committed treason enough for God's sake"
- Very similar to the sins carried out by Macbeth.
"And at the pit of Acheron"
- Depicting the affiliation between the Witches, Hecate and Hell.
Piousness
"his virtues will plead like angels" -
Praise towards Duncan, concedes to the concept of 'the Divine Order'.
"How you shall bid God 'ild us for your pains"
- Duncan referring to God again exhibits this idea of a Divine Order in which monarchs are the closest beings to God.
"his virtues will plead life angels, trumpet-tongued against the deep damnation of his taking off"
- Macbeth believes that Duncan will be heralded into Heaven upon his death.
"Most sacrilegious murder"
- Shows the degree to which regicide is opposed (said by Macduff).
"In the great hand of God I stand"
- This depicts Banquo's devout nature; further cementing him as Macbeth's foil
Light and Dark
Darkness
"stars, hide your fires"
- Macbeth requests for his misdeeds to remain unseen and unquestioned.
"Come, thick night and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell"
- Mirroring, Macbeth's statement, LM wishes for her acts against got to be veiled by darkness.
"The moon is down"
- This implies that conditions are right for Macbeth's 'dark desires' to be executed
"Clamour'd the livelong night. Some say, the earth was ferocious and did shake."
- Throughout the night of Duncan's murder, there was an almost supernatural feeling.
"While night's black agents to their prays do rouse"
- Reference to the 'wickedness' of night, the reference to 'agents' suggests secrecy and clandestine behavior.
Light
"
Enter Banquo and Fleance with a torch
"
- The benevolent Banquo and Fleance can be seen with a torch, antithetical of Macbeth's desire for the night to shroud his evil intentions.
"Let not light see my black and deep desires"
- Macbeth does not with for elucidation of his sinful behavior.
Power / Power Shifts
"My dearest love"
- Initially, LM and M's relationship is shown to be affectionate and compassionate.
"Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor!"
- LM showing her respect and admiration for M.
"Live a coward in thine own esteem"
- LM belittles Macbeth, emasculating him and coercing him into supporting the plot.
"I am settled"
- LM manipulates M with ease, demonstrates the control that she has over him.
"This is a sorry sight(M) ... A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight(LM)"
- LM again exhibits her control over Macbeth, dismissing his claims of guilt or anxiety.
"Be innocent of the knowledge"
- M exercises his newfound control over LM, keeping her in a state of unawareness.
"Are you a man?"
- The appearance of Banquo's ghost acts an outlier in M's newfound control, he is in a vulnerable state and is belittled by LM for this.
"Cure her of that"
- M appears ignorant of LM's condition, showing a lack of affection or care.
Antithesis and Foils
"My noble partner"
- As the play progresses, Banquo and Macbeth become more distant; their personalities begin to develop into opposing ones as a result of Macbeth's desires.
"Look to the Lady"
- Banquo shows some form of care towards LM's wellbeing, as the play progresses; Macbeth's care for her wellbeing appears to dissipate.
"Most indissoluble tie"
- Despite suspicion, Banquo remains loyal to Macbeth and does not give into his fears as easily as Macbeth does (kills Banquo immediately after fear develops).
Honour
"Brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name)"
- A resounding sense of respect and admiration towards Macbeth.
"O valiant cousin(KD) ... Worthy Macbeth(MB)"
- Gratitude and admiration shown to Macbeth by Banquo (later to become his foil) and King Duncan (a being close to God as states by Divine Order).
"Some wicked this way comes"
- The witches show their lack of admiration towards Macbeth, they know of his actions and no longer 'hail' him.
"Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen"
- By the play's terminus, all honour directed towards Macbeth has ceased, he is recognised as devilish butcher
Descent and Degradation
"Never shake thy gory locks at me ... Is this a dagger which I see before me"
- Macbeth is hallucinating, his guilt is beginning to corrode his sanity.
"Safe towards your love and honour"
- Macbeth feels complacent to be dutiful and to serve King Duncan.
"Deep damnation of his taking-off"
- Macbeth believes that he will face repercussions/an eternal punishment for murdering Duncan (a being so close to God).
"For mine own good stepped in so far"
- Macbeth has become misanthropic and selfish, he cares only for his position as king.
"Give to the edge o' the sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls"
- Macbeth has lost all sense of morality at this point, he is not opposed the idea of a child's murder (a concept he showed opposition to when referred to by LM).
"My soul is too much charged with blood of thine already"
- Macbeth realises that he is destined for eternal damnation and proceeds in his inhumane actions because of this.