Ambition and power: the full guide is being written.

Until it is ready, here is the theme's shape through the text and its key quotes from the Summary.

The shape of the theme

Where it rises and falls

Central in 4 of the 28 scenes; it runs strongest in Act 1 and quietest in Act 4.

Compare with

Quotes on the theme (a bigger dot, more quotes)
Set as an AQA extract

Use this in the exam: find your extract's scene, then follow the theme forward. Tracing how it rises, falls or changes from the extract to the whole play is what the top level rewards.

Key quotes

14 quotes, in the order they come in the text. Point at or tap an underlined word for its note.

Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear / Things that do sound so fair?

Banquo to Macbeth

Act 1, Scene 3, line 54

Ambition and powerAppearance and realityGuilt and conscience

Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more.

Macbeth to the Witches

Act 1, Scene 3, line 73

Ambition and powerFate and the supernatural

Glamis and Thane of Cawdor! / The greatest is behind.

Macbeth to himself (aside)

Act 1, Scene 3, line 125

3Aside

Ambition and powerFate and the supernatural

Two truths are told / As happy prologues to the swelling act / Of the imperial theme.

Macbeth to himself (aside)

Act 1, Scene 3, line 140

Ambition and powerKingship and tyrannyFate and the supernatural

My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man / That function is smothered in surmise, / And nothing is but what is not.

Macbeth to himself (aside)

Act 1, Scene 3, line 152

4Grade 9 insight

Ambition and powerGuilt and conscienceAppearance and reality

The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step / On which I must fall down or else o'erleap, / For in my way it lies.

Macbeth to himself (aside)

Act 1, Scene 4, line 55

4Aside

Ambition and powerKingship and tyranny

Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires.

Macbeth to himself (aside)

Act 1, Scene 4, line 57

3Rhyming couplet4Grade 9 insight

Ambition and powerAppearance and realityGuilt and conscience

This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou might'st not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee.

Macbeth (read by Lady Macbeth) to Lady Macbeth

Act 1, Scene 5, line 10

4Grade 9 insight

Ambition and powerMasculinity and gender

Thou wouldst be great, / Art not without ambition, but without / The illness should attend it.

Lady Macbeth to the absent Macbeth (soliloquy)

Act 1, Scene 5, line 18

3Ambition as sin

Ambition and powerGuilt and conscience

Hie thee hither, / That I may pour my spirits in thine ear / And chastise with the valor of my tongue / All that impedes thee from the golden round, / Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem / To have thee crowned withal.

Lady Macbeth to the absent Macbeth (soliloquy)

Act 1, Scene 5, line 28

4Fate or free will

Ambition and powerMasculinity and genderFate and the supernatural

I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself / And falls on th' other

Macbeth to himself (soliloquy)

Act 1, Scene 7, line 25

4Dramatic irony5Hamartia

Ambition and powerGuilt and conscience

He hath honored me of late, and I have bought / Golden opinions from all sorts of people, / Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, / Not cast aside so soon.

Macbeth to Lady Macbeth

Act 1, Scene 7, line 35

3Reputation, not morality

Ambition and powerAppearance and realityKingship and tyranny

I am settled and bend up / Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

Macbeth to Lady Macbeth

Act 1, Scene 7, line 92

Ambition and powerViolenceGuilt and conscience

I go, and it is done. The bell invites me.

Macbeth to himself (soliloquy)

Act 2, Scene 1, line 75

3Echo

Ambition and powerViolenceGuilt and conscience

Ambition and power: the full guide is being written.

Until it is ready, here is the theme's shape through the text and its key quotes from the Summary.

The shape of the theme

Where it rises and falls

Central in 4 of the 28 scenes; it runs strongest in Act 1 and quietest in Act 4.

Compare with

Quotes on the theme (a bigger dot, more quotes)
Set as an AQA extract

Use this in the exam: find your extract's scene, then follow the theme forward. Tracing how it rises, falls or changes from the extract to the whole play is what the top level rewards.

Key quotes

14 quotes, in the order they come in the text. Point at or tap an underlined word for its note.

Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear / Things that do sound so fair?

Banquo to Macbeth

Act 1, Scene 3, line 54

Ambition and powerAppearance and realityGuilt and conscience

Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more.

Macbeth to the Witches

Act 1, Scene 3, line 73

Ambition and powerFate and the supernatural

Glamis and Thane of Cawdor! / The greatest is behind.

Macbeth to himself (aside)

Act 1, Scene 3, line 125

3Aside

Ambition and powerFate and the supernatural

Two truths are told / As happy prologues to the swelling act / Of the imperial theme.

Macbeth to himself (aside)

Act 1, Scene 3, line 140

Ambition and powerKingship and tyrannyFate and the supernatural

My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man / That function is smothered in surmise, / And nothing is but what is not.

Macbeth to himself (aside)

Act 1, Scene 3, line 152

4Grade 9 insight

Ambition and powerGuilt and conscienceAppearance and reality

The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step / On which I must fall down or else o'erleap, / For in my way it lies.

Macbeth to himself (aside)

Act 1, Scene 4, line 55

4Aside

Ambition and powerKingship and tyranny

Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires.

Macbeth to himself (aside)

Act 1, Scene 4, line 57

3Rhyming couplet4Grade 9 insight

Ambition and powerAppearance and realityGuilt and conscience

This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou might'st not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee.

Macbeth (read by Lady Macbeth) to Lady Macbeth

Act 1, Scene 5, line 10

4Grade 9 insight

Ambition and powerMasculinity and gender

Thou wouldst be great, / Art not without ambition, but without / The illness should attend it.

Lady Macbeth to the absent Macbeth (soliloquy)

Act 1, Scene 5, line 18

3Ambition as sin

Ambition and powerGuilt and conscience

Hie thee hither, / That I may pour my spirits in thine ear / And chastise with the valor of my tongue / All that impedes thee from the golden round, / Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem / To have thee crowned withal.

Lady Macbeth to the absent Macbeth (soliloquy)

Act 1, Scene 5, line 28

4Fate or free will

Ambition and powerMasculinity and genderFate and the supernatural

I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself / And falls on th' other

Macbeth to himself (soliloquy)

Act 1, Scene 7, line 25

4Dramatic irony5Hamartia

Ambition and powerGuilt and conscience

He hath honored me of late, and I have bought / Golden opinions from all sorts of people, / Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, / Not cast aside so soon.

Macbeth to Lady Macbeth

Act 1, Scene 7, line 35

3Reputation, not morality

Ambition and powerAppearance and realityKingship and tyranny

I am settled and bend up / Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

Macbeth to Lady Macbeth

Act 1, Scene 7, line 92

Ambition and powerViolenceGuilt and conscience

I go, and it is done. The bell invites me.

Macbeth to himself (soliloquy)

Act 2, Scene 1, line 75

3Echo

Ambition and powerViolenceGuilt and conscience