SET SCENE QUOTATION CHART – How the Macbeths change
Changes throughout Act 1
Stage
Impulsive
Confused
Loving
Wicked
Stage
Points emphasising Macbeth’s
different stages
Macbeth is anxious to kill King
Duncan immediately before he
changes his mind.
As soon as Macbeth realises this,
he begins to reflect and his
impulsive nature subsides. He
fears that if he were to kill King
Duncan it might have
repercussions.
Macbeth is caught in a moral
dilemma. He wants to kill the King
to achieve his ambitions, but his
conscience recognises the King’s
generosity.
After the soliloquy and entrance of
Lady Macbeth, Macbeth decides
not to kill King Duncan.
Having changed his mind once,
Macbeth is persuaded by Lady
Macbeth to change it again.
Macbeth’s resolve comes full
circle. The full extent of his evil
potential is apparent as he
prepares to be effective in the art
of deception.
Points emphasising Lady
Macbeth’s different stages
Lady Macbeth is very flattering
towards King Duncan, because
she wants to trick him. She would
like her husband to take his place.
Ambitious
She continues to flatter Duncan.
Cruel
When Macbeth appears to have
changed his mind Lady Macbeth
cruelly challenges him to kill King
Duncan to prove his love for her.
She grows ever more critical of
Macbeth.
Incessant
Lady Macbeth taunts him
incessantly – denying him his
manhood.
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mquot8057
Supporting quotation
If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well
It were done quickly.
(Act 1 Scene 7 line 1)
But in these cases
We still have judgement here; that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor
(Act 1 Scene 7 lines 7-10)
Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office,
(Act 1 Scene 7 lines 16-18)
We will proceed no further in this business:
He hath honoured me of late,
(Act 1 Scene 7 lines 31-32)
Bring forth men-children only;
For thy undaunted mettle should compose
Nothing but males
(Act 1 Scene 7 lines 72-74)
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.
(Act 1 Scene 7 lines 79-82)
Supporting quotation
All our service
In every point twice done and then done double
Were poor and single business to contend
(Act 1 Scene 6 lines 15-17)
Your servants ever
Have theirs, themselves and what is theirs in compt
To make their audit at your highness’ pleasure,
Still to return your own.
(Act1 Scene 6 lines 26-29)
From this time
Such I account your love. Art thou afraid
To be the same in thine own act and valour
As thou art in desire?
(Act 1 Scene 7 lines 38-41)
What beast was’t, then,
That made you break this enterprise to me?
(Act 1 Scene 7 lines 47-48)
When you durst do it, then you were a man;
(Act 1 Scene 7 line 49)
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SET SCENE QUOTATION CHART – How the Macbeths change
Changes throughout Act 5
Stage
Points emphasising
Macbeth’s different stages
Macbeth will not admit that he has
failed.
Vehement
He continually reminds himself of
the witches’ prophecies in order to
reassure himself.
Worried
Macbeth begins to admit that the
odds are stacked heavily against
him.
Macbeth finds further resilient
qualities. Despite all his mistakes
he is determined to fight on.
Supporting quotation
Bring me no more reports; let them fly all:
Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane,
I cannot taint with fear.
(Act 5 Scene 3 lines 1-3)
Fear not, Macbeth; no man that’s born of woman
Shall e’er have power upon thee.
(Act 5 Scene 3 lines 6-7)
Seyton! – I am sick at heart,
When I behold –Seyton, I say!—This push
Will cheer me ever, or disseat me now.
I have lived long enough:
(Act 5 Scene 3 lines 19-22)
I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked.
Give me my armour.
(Act 5 Scene 3 lines 32-33)
Although Macbeth recognises all
the odds are against him, he is
ever more resolute, no matter how
cruel, to protect his recent
acquisition of power.
Send out more horses; skirr the country round.
Hang those that talk of fear.
(Act 5 Scene 3 lines 36-37)
Desperate
Macbeth has very foolishly come
to believe in the prophecy,
however the witches have tricked
him.
Bring it after me
I will not be afraid of death and bane,
Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane.
(Act 5 Scene 3 lines 59-61)
Stage
Points emphasising Lady
Macbeth’s different stages
Supporting quotation
Stubborn
Callous
Semimadness,
guilt
Talking to
herself –
madness
Complete
repetitive
madness
Lady Macbeth continues to try to
maintain the power she has
gained through her husband’s
position.
Despite this, she is already
starting to recognise the
foolishness and permanence of
their evil deeds. The appalling
deed cannot be undone.
Lady Macbeth is unable to forget
the past events and repeatedly
holds the same conversation,
even though she is alone.
Lady Macbeth has completely lost
her sanity at this point. She is reliving the moment that she tried to
console Macbeth after he killed
King Duncan. She has come to
realise that she will be punished in
hell for her involvement in
Macbeth’s crime of regicide.
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mquot8057
What need we fear? Who knows it, when none can
call our power to account?
(Act 5 Scene 1 lines 32-34)
Here’s the smell of the blood still:
All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little
hand. Oh, oh, oh!
(Act 5 Scene 1 lines 42-43)
Wash your hands, put on your nightgown, look not
so pale.—I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried; he
cannot come out on’s grave.
(Act 5 Scene 1 lines 52- 55)
To bed, to bed! There’s knocking at the gate:
come, come, come, come, give me your hand.
What’s done cannot be undone.—To bed, to bed,
to bed!
(Act 5 Scene 1 lines 56-58)
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