Gracie Schaefer P.

3
Part 2: Identifications

1. (Quote #11) Said by Macduff to Macbeth. This is the quote in which Macduff reveals his
unusual birth, the moment when Macbeth realizes he had been deceived. This plays to a
theme of “Perception vs. Reality” or “Equivocation”. Macbeth believed (bases on what
the witches’ apparitions had told him) that he was invincible. He believed that since he
could not be killed by “man born of woman” he could not be killed. Since everyone is
born from a woman, right? He assumed he could never die until he hears that Macduff
was “untimely ripped” from his mother, it is then that Macbeth knows he his time is up.
2. (Quote #4) Said by Macbeth. At this point in the play Macbeth is beginning to entertain
the idea of becoming king. He sees the princes, as they are before him in the line to be
king, and realizes that he had to get them out of the picture. This relates to the theme of
“The corrupting power of unchecked ambition”. Macbeth sees the princes as obstacles
and will seemingly do anything to over-leap them. He asks the heavens and his own
eyes to be closed to his thoughts, sot that they cannot see the dark plans he is thinking
up.
3. (Quote #7) Said by Macbeth. THis quote shows that Macbeth is fearful of being caught,
he wants to “get away with” his crimes and not be suspect. He will do anything to be
“Safe”. He knows that Banquo knows of the prophecy, and knows that Banquo could be
the one to accuse him, so he had Banquo killed. He wants anyone in the country who
speaks ill of him to be killed. Macbeth will do anything to try to get away with what he
has done. This applies to “the power of unchecked ambition”, once again. Macbeth
shows he will do anything (or kill anyone,even his best friend) to get what he wants.
4. (Quote #8) Said by the Old Man to Ross. The Old Man and his son, Ross, meet after
the death of king Duncan. They discuss how nature hasn’t been quite right in Scotland
since his passing. When the Old Man says “...make good of bad, and friends of foes!” He
is mirroring the message of the entire play. The theme of Equivocation, saying one thing
and meaning something else. By saying make good of bad, he could be referring to
Macbeth who seems to be good, but is truly bad. “Friends of Foes” could be Malcolm
and Donalbain, who fled from the country and seemingly look like murderous traitors,
though they were actually fleeing for their lives. This quote shows how two-sided
everyone in the story actually is.
5. (Quote #12) Said by Lady Macbeth. Toward the end of the play Lady Macbeth begins
to have episodes, her guilt is finally getting to her. In one of her sleepwalking episodes
she is seen by a doctor and a lady-in-waiting. While they observe her they see her
rubbing her hands, trying to wash the blood off her hands. This could correspond with
the theme of Cause and Effect. In conspiring to commit these crimes, Lady Macbeth and
her husband did not think of the negative consequences. Now the guilt is destroying
Lady Macbeth’s mind.