Guilt and conscience: 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 8 of the 28 scenes; it runs strongest in Act 2 and quietest in Act 4.
- 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.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion1 / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs2 / Against the use of nature?3 Present fears / Are less than horrible imaginings.
Macbeth to himself (aside)
Act 1, Scene 3, line 147
The eye wink1 at the hand, yet let that be / Which the eye fears,2 when it is done, to see.
Macbeth to himself (aside)
Act 1, Scene 4, line 59
Make thick my blood.1 / Stop up th' access and passage to remorse, / That no compunctious visitings of nature2 / Shake my fell3 purpose, nor keep peace between / Th' effect and it.
Lady Macbeth to the spirits (soliloquy)
Act 1, Scene 5, line 50
Come, thick2 night,1 / And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, / That my keen knife see not3 the wound it makes, / Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark4 / To cry “Hold, hold!”
Lady Macbeth to the night (soliloquy)
Act 1, Scene 5, line 57
If it were1 done2 when 'tis done, then 'twere well / It were done quickly.3
Macbeth to himself (soliloquy)
Act 1, Scene 7, line 1
If th' assassination1 / Could trammel up the consequence2 and catch / With his surcease success, that but this blow / Might be the be-all and the end-all3 here
Macbeth to himself (soliloquy)
Act 1, Scene 7, line 2
And pity, like a naked2 newborn babe1 / Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubin horsed / Upon the sightless couriers of the air, / Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, / That tears shall drown the wind.3
Macbeth to himself (soliloquy)
Act 1, Scene 7, line 21
We1 will proceed no further2 in this business.3
Macbeth to Lady Macbeth
Act 1, Scene 7, line 34
But wherefore could not I pronounce1 “Amen”? / I had most need of blessing,2 and “Amen” / Stuck in my throat.3
Macbeth to Lady Macbeth
Act 2, Scene 2, line 42
These deeds must not be thought1 / After these ways; so, it will make us mad.2
Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
Act 2, Scene 2, line 45
Methought I heard a voice1 cry “Sleep no more!2 / Macbeth does murder sleep”3
Macbeth to Lady Macbeth
Act 2, Scene 2, line 47
Go get some water1 / And wash2 this filthy witness3 from your hand.
Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
Act 2, Scene 2, line 60
Will all great Neptune's ocean1 wash this blood2 / Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather / The multitudinous seas incarnadine,3 / Making the green one red.
Macbeth to himself (soliloquy)
Act 2, Scene 2, line 78
Out, damned2 spot,1,3 out, I say!
Lady Macbeth to the stain on her hand
Act 5, Scene 1, line 37