MacBeth Quotes Analysis
1. So fair and foul a day I have not seen
Macbeth to Banquo
At the heath, after the battle, before they meet the witches
I had never seen a day with such terrible weather, but with great outcomes in battle.
Pathetic fallacy: weather reflecting the atmosphere/events of the story. If the weather is bad, bad things will happen. Soon after Macbeth says this, the three witches show up and tell him prophecies which he will act upon and pay for with his life.
Foreshadowing: the bad weather signifies that something bad will happen.
2. 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 consequences.
Banquo to Macbeth
After they encountered the witches and after Ross tells Macbeth that his is the new thane of Cawdor.
The witches tell us part of the truth to gain our trust, only to lead us to our destruction and betray us in more serious ways.
Foreshadowing: signifies that the prophecies told by the witches will destroy Macbeth
Theme 1-apearances can be deceiving: the witches appears to be nice by telling them truths and good prophecies, but as Macbeth act upon those prophecies, he will destroy himself.
3. There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.
King Duncan to Malcolm
The king’s headquarters, discussing the previous thane of Cawdor, before Macbeth returns
There is no way of telling what someone is thinking by looking at his face. I completely trusted the previous thane of Cawdor.
Dramatic irony: Macbeth enters right after this phrase… Suggests that he has learned his lesson because he acknowledges that outside appearances cannot be trusted. Ironically, he makes the exact same mistake when he names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor and puts his faith in the man who will eventually murder him.
Foreshadowing: indicates Macbeth who is the new thane of Cawdor will also betray Duncan
Theme
Macbeth to Banquo
At the heath, after the battle, before they meet the witches
I had never seen a day with such terrible weather, but with great outcomes in battle.
Pathetic fallacy: weather reflecting the atmosphere/events of the story. If the weather is bad, bad things will happen. Soon after Macbeth says this, the three witches show up and tell him prophecies which he will act upon and pay for with his life.
Foreshadowing: the bad weather signifies that something bad will happen.
2. 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 consequences.
Banquo to Macbeth
After they encountered the witches and after Ross tells Macbeth that his is the new thane of Cawdor.
The witches tell us part of the truth to gain our trust, only to lead us to our destruction and betray us in more serious ways.
Foreshadowing: signifies that the prophecies told by the witches will destroy Macbeth
Theme 1-apearances can be deceiving: the witches appears to be nice by telling them truths and good prophecies, but as Macbeth act upon those prophecies, he will destroy himself.
3. There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.
King Duncan to Malcolm
The king’s headquarters, discussing the previous thane of Cawdor, before Macbeth returns
There is no way of telling what someone is thinking by looking at his face. I completely trusted the previous thane of Cawdor.
Dramatic irony: Macbeth enters right after this phrase… Suggests that he has learned his lesson because he acknowledges that outside appearances cannot be trusted. Ironically, he makes the exact same mistake when he names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor and puts his faith in the man who will eventually murder him.
Foreshadowing: indicates Macbeth who is the new thane of Cawdor will also betray Duncan
Theme