act 1 quotes - macbeth

7/25/2019 Act 1 Quotes - Macbeth

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Nguyen 1

Nathan Nguyen

Besseling

European Literature

15 December 2014

Act 1 Quotes

The uote !"air is #oul$ an% #oul is #air$ &o'er through the #og an% #ilthy air! is spo(en by

the three )itches )ho are tal(ing among each other* The literal meaning o# this phrase is that

both #air an% #oul are groupe% together* +ne o# the t)o is the other, 'ice 'ersa* The signi#icance

o# this meaning is the para%o- o# goo% an% ba%* .t means that no goo% human or ba% human

e-ists, the t)o coe-ist as a )hole* This coul% possibly be seen in /acbeth as he becomes more

cynical a#ter hearing the )itches prophecy* This uote is seen in Act +ne$ cene 1 Line 12*

!tay you imper#ect spea(ers* Tell me more* By inels %eath . (no) . am Thane o#

3lamis$ But ho) o# a)%or The Thane o# a)%or li'es***! is spo(en by /acbeth* The au%ience

)hom he is spea(ing to is the )itches* The meaning$ )hen 'ie)e% in a literal perspecti'e$ is that

/acbeth )ants the )itches to stay an% to greater in#orm him o# his prophecy* &e (no)s that hes

Thane o# 3lamis by inheriting it #rom his #ather$ but %oes not (no) ho) he is Thane o# a)%or*

The Thane o# a)%or is still ali'e* The signi#icance o# this uote is seen though moo%*

/acbeths )or%s causes a tense moo%$ creating suspense #or the rea%er* .t emphasi6es /acbeths

curiosity o# this mystery* The uote is #oun% in Act 1$ cene 7 Line 80*

The uote !The 9rince o# umberlan%: That is a step; +n )hich . must #all %o)n or else

o erleap$ "or in my )ay it lies* tars$ hi%e your #ires, Let not light see my blac( an% %eep

%esires! is spo(en by /acbeth* &e is spea(ing not to an au%ience$ but to himsel#* The literal

meaning o# this uote is that he must o'ercome the 9rince an% #or his %esires to remain hi%%en*


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The signi#icance o# is seen through the literary %e'ice$ asi%e* As /acbeth spea(s to himsel#$ he

reali6es that he must (ill the 9rince or to #in% another solution, he hopes that nobo%y )ill be able

to %isco'er his %e'ious scheme* .t is #oun% on Act 1$ cene 4 Line 4et %o . #ear thy

nature, .t is too #ull o th mil( o# human (in%ness; To catch the nearest )ay! is spo(en by La%y

/acbeth* he is rea%ing a letter out lou% to hersel#, she is the au%ience* The literal meaning is

that /acbeth is Thane o# 3lamis an% a)%or$ as promise%* he #ears #or his personality because

he is #ille% )ith human (in%ness* ha(espeare uses the literary %e'ice$ solilouy$ to contribute to

the signi#icance* olilouy allo)s La%y /acbeth to e-press her thoughts an% #eelings to the

rea%er an% hersel#* .t sho)s that she is concerne% o# /acbeth, she thin(s /acbeth may not be

able to (ill the prince because he is too (in%* * This uote is #oun% on Act 1$ cene 5 Line 12*

!ome$ you spirits; That ten% on mortal thoughts$ unse- me here$ An% #ill me #rom the

cro)n to the toe top?#ull; +# %irest cruelty! is spo(en by La%y /acbeth* The au%ience is hersel#

@or suppose%ly the spirits* The literal meaning o# this is that La%y /acbeth is calling #or spirits

to #ill her )ith cruelty* ha(espeare uses the literary %e'ice$ symbol$ to contribute to the

signi#icance o# this uote by using the concept o# )itchcra#t* he is calling #or e'il spirits to ta(e

a)ay her la%y?li(e #eatures so she is able to (ill the 9rince #or /acbeth* This uote is #oun% on

Act 1$ cene 5 Line 78*

!To beguile the time$ Loo( li(e the time, bear )elcome in your eye$ >our han%$ your

tongue* Loo( li(e th innocent #lo)er$ But be the serpent un%ert! is spo(en by La%y /acbeth*

he is spea(ing to /acbeth* The literal meaning o# this uote is to enchant the time$ loo( li(e the

time$ an% to appear )elcoming* &e tells him to loo( innocent$ but to be a serpent un%er it*

ha(espeare uses the literary %e'ice$ metaphor$ to contribute to the #igurati'e meaning* The


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Nguyen 7

actual meaning is #or /acbeth to %ecei'e his guests, he is to appear innocent an% normal$ )ith

his male'olent intentions still intact* This uote is #oun% on Act 1$ cene 5 Line 0*

!=e )ill procee% no #urther in this business* &e hath honore% me o# late$ an% . ha'e

bought; 3ol%en opinions #rom all sorts o# people$ =hich )oul% be )orn no) in their ne)est

gloss$ Not cast asi%e so soon! is spo(en by /acbeth* The au%ience is La%y /acbeth* The literal

meaning o# this uote is that /acbeth )ill no longer continue )ith his plans* &e cannot get

himsel# to (ill Duncan because has honore% him an% is too (in%* The literary %e'ice that

ha(espeare uses is rising action* A complication is cause% %ue to Duncans (in%ness* This

%e'ice is use% to sho) that /acbeth is no) hesitant an% %oes not (no) i# he can get himsel# to

(ill the Cing* This uote is #oun% on Act 1$ cene 8 Line 77*

act 1 quotes - macbeth

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