Studying Macbeth? Here are the Top 5 quotes for every main character

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is filled with powerful dialogue that reveals the complex personalities and motivations of its characters. In this article, we will explore five of the most important quotes for each of the play’s central characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Duncan, Malcolm, Macduff, and the witches. Each quote illuminates their roles, ambitions, and the themes of the play.

Macbeth: The Ambitious Warrior

Macbeth, the tragic hero of the play, is a noble warrior who succumbs to unchecked ambition. His actions are driven by his desire for power and his subsequent guilt.

1. "Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?" (Act 2, Scene 1) This hallucination occurs before Macbeth murders Duncan, symbolizing his inner conflict and the inevitability of his violent actions.

2. "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other." (Act 1, Scene 7) Here, Macbeth acknowledges that it is only his ambition driving him to murder Duncan, foreshadowing his tragic downfall.

3. "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" (Act 2, Scene 2) After killing Duncan, Macbeth feels overwhelming guilt, realizing that nothing can cleanse him of his crime.

4. "To be thus is nothing; but to be safely thus." (Act 3, Scene 1) Macbeth expresses his fear of losing power. Although he is king, he is plagued by insecurity and paranoia.

5. "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage." (Act 5, Scene 5) After learning of Lady Macbeth’s death, Macbeth reflects on the futility of life, revealing his despair and nihilism.

Lady Macbeth: The Manipulative Partner

Lady Macbeth is instrumental in pushing Macbeth to commit murder. She is ambitious and manipulative, but later succumbs to overwhelming guilt.

1. "Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't." (Act 1, Scene 5)This line captures Lady Macbeth’s manipulation as she encourages Macbeth to deceive others while secretly plotting Duncan’s murder.

2. "Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here." (Act 1, Scene 5)Lady Macbeth calls upon dark forces to strip her of feminine weakness, preparing herself for the violent acts ahead.

3. "A little water clears us of this deed." (Act 2, Scene 2)After Duncan’s murder, Lady Macbeth dismisses the severity of the crime, believing that it can easily be forgotten, though she later realizes otherwise.

4. "Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" (Act 5, Scene 1)In her sleepwalking scene, Lady Macbeth tries to wash imaginary bloodstains from her hands, symbolizing her overwhelming guilt.

5. "What's done cannot be undone." (Act 5, Scene 1)This simple yet profound line encapsulates Lady Macbeth’s regret and the inescapable consequences of their actions.

King Duncan: The Benevolent Ruler

Duncan, the rightful king of Scotland, is portrayed as a kind and just ruler. His murder symbolizes the disruption of the natural order.

1. "There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face." (Act 1, Scene 4)Duncan reflects on the difficulty of discerning a person’s true intentions, ironically after being betrayed by the former Thane of Cawdor and before being betrayed by Macbeth.

2. "What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won." (Act 1, Scene 2)Duncan rewards Macbeth with the title of Thane of Cawdor, unknowingly giving power to the man who will murder him.

3. "This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle senses." (Act 1, Scene 6)This line is an example of dramatic irony, as Duncan praises Macbeth’s castle, where he will soon be murdered.

4. "I have begun to plant thee, and will labor to make thee full of growing." (Act 1, Scene 4)Duncan expresses his intention to nurture and support Macbeth, not realizing that Macbeth is plotting against him.

5. "His silver skin laced with his golden blood." (Act 2, Scene 3)After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth describes the slain king in poetic terms, emphasizing Duncan’s purity and the horror of the crime.

Malcolm: The Rightful Heir

Malcolm, Duncan’s son, represents the restoration of order and justice. He contrasts with Macbeth’s tyranny and grows into a leader capable of reclaiming the throne.

1. "Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it." (Act 1, Scene 4)Malcolm speaks about the former Thane of Cawdor’s honorable death, highlighting the theme of loyalty and betrayal.

2. "Let grief convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it." (Act 4, Scene 3)Malcolm encourages Macduff to channel his grief over his family's murder into a desire for revenge against Macbeth.

3. "Dispute it like a man." (Act 4, Scene 3)Malcolm urges Macduff to fight against Macbeth rather than give in to despair, emphasizing the theme of justice.

4. "We shall not spend a large expense of time before we reckon with your several loves." (Act 5, Scene 8)Malcolm promises to reward those who supported him in overthrowing Macbeth, showing his fair and just nature as king.

5. "The time is free." (Act 5, Scene 8)After Macbeth’s death, Malcolm declares that Scotland is free from tyranny, restoring peace and order to the kingdom.

Macduff: The Avenger

Macduff is the play’s symbol of justice and vengeance. He opposes Macbeth’s tyranny and ultimately brings about his downfall.

1. "O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!" (Act 2, Scene 3)Macduff’s reaction upon discovering Duncan’s body reflects his deep loyalty to the king and foreshadows his role as Macbeth’s nemesis.

2. "I am not treacherous." (Act 4, Scene 3)Macduff assures Malcolm of his loyalty, highlighting his integrity and commitment to Scotland’s welfare.

3. "All my pretty ones? Did you say all?" (Act 4, Scene 3)Upon learning of the murder of his wife and children, Macduff’s grief fuels his desire for revenge against Macbeth.

4. "Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped." (Act 5, Scene 8)Macduff reveals that he was born by Caesarean section, thus fulfilling the witches' prophecy that Macbeth would fall to no man born of a woman.

5. "Hail, king! for so thou art." (Act 5, Scene 8)After defeating Macbeth, Macduff hails Malcolm as king, symbolizing the restoration of legitimate rule and justice.

The Witches: The Agents of Fate

The witches, or Weird Sisters, are agents of fate and manipulation. Their prophecies set the events of the play in motion, influencing Macbeth’s decisions.

1. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair." (Act 1, Scene 1)This paradox introduces the theme of moral inversion and foreshadows the deceit and confusion in the play.

2. "All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!" (Act 1, Scene 3)The witches’ prophecy sparks Macbeth’s ambition and sets the tragedy in motion.

3. "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." (Act 4, Scene 1)As Macbeth approaches, the witches anticipate his arrival, acknowledging his transformation into a wicked tyrant.

4. "Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble." (Act 4, Scene 1)This famous chant captures the witches’ role in creating chaos and manipulating events to lead Macbeth to his downfall.

5. "None of woman born shall harm Macbeth." (Act 4, Scene 1)This deceptive prophecy gives Macbeth a false sense of invincibility, which ultimately leads to his demise when he faces Macduff.