Macbeth, Key Characters and Themes

• "so withered and so wild in their attire." 1,1 Banquo
• "you should be women and yet your beards forbid me to interpet that you are so." 1,1 Banquo
• "you imperfect speakers" 1,3 Macbeth
• "They have more in them than mortal knowledge" - In Macbeth's letter read aloud by Lady Macbeth, suggests the supernatural nature of these witches 1,5
• Often referred to as Weird Sisters
• Plant propecies in Macbeth's mind, leaving his ambition to do the rest so they don't have to take direct action
• Ambigous prophecies (can be interpreted in many ways)
• speak in trochiac tetrameter, different to all other characters, makes them seem like they're chanting, themes of supernatural
• Only say what will happen, not how it will happen
• "How now you secret, black and midnight hags?" Macbeth 4,1 when he retuns for his second prophecy.
• Their role is to hold out temptation to both Macbeth and Banquo.

• "There's no art, to find the mind's construction in the face." - Duncan 1,4 (don't judge a book by it's cover)
• Is murdered by Macbeth in Act 2 Scene 2
• He is seen as being a noble king, which is revealed by Macbeth in his soliloquy 'hath been so clear in his great office, his virtues will plead like angels'.
• He is too trusting as a King, he reveals 'he was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust' when referring to the treachery of the Thane of Cawdor

• Has two sons - Malcolm and Donnalbain, M flees to England, D to ireland, "Which puts upon them suspiscion of the deed." They flee because where they are "there's daggers in men's smiles."
• When he names Malcolm as his succesor he gives Macbeth motivation for his descent into evil. Although he is blissfully unaware of this.
• Macbeth is supposedly loyal to him and Duncan trusts him.
• Malcolm proves himslef to be a worthy succesor - advancing on Macbeth's castle with the camouflage of branches to disguise the size of the army. His leadership is confident and inspiring.

• "Let not light see my deep and dark desires." - Macbeth, 1,4
• "Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it." - Lady Macbeth speaking about her husband. She feels he has ambition but not the evil capability to fufill his ambitions, hinting she may persuade him to pursue his ambition by fixing this fault.
• "This tyrant who's sole name blisters our tongues was once thought honest." - Malcolm speaking to Macduff about Macbeth, 4,3 he also calls Macbeth "treacherous."
• "Devilish Macbeth." "Black Macbeth." 

• "My dearest partner of greatness." - How Macbeth refers to Lady Macbeth in his letter to her about the witches 1,5 This shows Lady Macbeth's role with Macbeth was unsual for women at the time, he is treating her as an equal, showing how powerful she is.
• "Unsex me here" "Come to my woman's breasts and take milk for gall." - Lady Macbeth's solioquy revealing how she desires to be stripped of her femininity and compassion, leaving her remorseless and capable of perfoming evil deeds. 1,5
• "When you durst do it, then you were a man." - Lady Macbeth 1,7 shows how she is reducing his masculinity by suggesting he isn't brave enough to carry out Duncan's murder
• "Tis safer to be that which we destroy, than by destruction dwell in doubful joy." - It's better to be dead than love in this state of guilt and remorse, she says this to herself in a short solioquy before Macbeth enters and she proceeds to comfort him. Reveals the guilt she feels.
• "All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand."  - She cannot get rid of the blood, 5,1 

• "only vaulting ambition." - Macbeth 1,7 
• "Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all." - Banquo 3,1 realises the rewards Macbeth's ambition has reaped but is able to keep his willpower to not submit to the temptations
• "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill." Mabeth 3,2 after ordering Banquo's murder. He thinks his position will become stronger if he continues to commit ill deeds.
• "We are but young in deed." - Macbeth 3,4 says this even after murdering Banquo and Duncan and gaining his position as King, this proves his greed is eternal.

Blood/Water imagery

• "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from these hands?" - Macbeth 2,2 after killing Duncan 
• "A little water clears us of this deed." - Lady Macbeth 2,2 
• "I am in blood stepped so far that I should wade no more." - Macbeth 3,4 after seeing Banquo's ghost
• "Out, damned spot;out I say." - LM 

• Role of Women: "The repetition in a woman's ear would murther as it fell." - Macduff 2,3 suggests a women is too weak to handle serious issues such as these.

• "Our fears in Banquo stick deep." Macbeth 3,1 His fears of the prophecy Banquo was given have consumed any feelings of friendhship that may stop him from ordering his murder. Macbeth thinks he can meddle with fate and stop the inevitable prophecy.
• "Both of you know Banquo was your enemy." Macbeth says this to the murderers before they kill Banquo, he may be trying to convince himself more than them
• "Shall Banquo's issue ever reign in this kingdom?" - Macbeth 4,1 he's desperate to know from the witches whether he's solved the "issue" but they aviod answering saying "seek to know no more."
• He proves that the temptations of the witches may be successfully resisted and that Macbeth therefore acts from free will.
• Banquo expresses unshakeable moral principles and an ability to tell right from wrong
• He warns Macbeth the witches may be 'instruments of darkness' and not be trusted. When Macbeth hints that they might plot together, Banquo states firmly he will keep his 'allegiance clear'.
• King James I believd himself to be a descendant of Banquo's

• "Beware the Thane of Fife." - Witches 4,1 This is what leads Macbeth to be suspicois of Macduff and ultimately kill his family.
• "Then live Macduff, what need I fear of thee." - Macbeth 4,1 reaction after being told none of women born can harm him, so he doesn't fear Macduff but ruthelessly kills his family anyway.
• As a result of Macbeth learning Macduff has fled to England, he orders the killing of his family, so in some ways Macduff feels responsible for their murder.
• "Sinful Macduff, they were all struck for thee." Macduff 4,3 shows his guilt, he blames himself for Macbeth's actions, it's punishment for him fleeing to England.
• "my wife and children's ghost will haunt me still." - Macduff to Macbeth. He's saying his ghosts will haunt him unless he is the one to kill Macbeth.