Kingship and tyranny: 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 15 of the 28 scenes; it runs strongest in Act 4 and quietest in Act 1.
- 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.
O valiant1 cousin,2 worthy gentleman!3
Duncan to the Captain and the court
Act 1, Scene 2, line 26
No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive / Our bosom interest.1 Go, pronounce his present death,2 / And with his former title greet Macbeth.3
Duncan to Ross
Act 1, Scene 2, line 73
The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me1 / In borrowed robes?2,3
Macbeth to Ross and Angus
Act 1, Scene 3, line 114
He was a gentleman1 on whom I built2 / An absolute trust.3
Duncan to Malcolm
Act 1, Scene 4, line 15
I have begun to plant thee1 and will labor / To make thee full of growing.2
Duncan to Macbeth
Act 1, Scene 4, line 32
My plenteous joys, / Wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves / In drops of sorrow.1 … We will establish2 our estate upon / Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter3 / The Prince of Cumberland
Duncan to his sons, kinsmen and thanes
Act 1, Scene 4, line 39
He's here in double trust:1 / First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,2 / Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, / Who should against his murderer shut the door, / Not bear the knife myself.3
Macbeth to himself (soliloquy)
Act 1, Scene 7, line 12
Besides, this Duncan / Hath borne his faculties so meek,1 hath been / So clear in his great office, that his virtues / Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued,2 against / The deep damnation of his taking-off3
Macbeth to himself (soliloquy)
Act 1, Scene 7, line 16
So I lose none1 / In seeking to augment it, but still keep / My bosom franchised2 and allegiance clear,3 / I shall be counseled.
Banquo to Macbeth
Act 2, Scene 1, line 36
Confusion now hath made his masterpiece.1 / Most sacrilegious2 murder hath broke ope / The Lord's anointed temple3 and stole thence / The life o' th' building.
Macduff to Macbeth and Lennox
Act 2, Scene 3, line 76
Fears and scruples shake us. / In the great hand of God1 I stand, and thence / Against the undivulged2 pretense I fight / Of treasonous malice.3
Banquo to everyone present
Act 2, Scene 3, line 151
No,1 cousin, I'll to Fife.2
Macduff to Ross
Act 2, Scene 4, line 50
To be thus1 is nothing, / But to be safely thus.2
Macbeth to himself (soliloquy)
Act 3, Scene 1, line 52
Of this dead butcher1 and his fiend-like queen2 / (Who, as 'tis thought, by self and violent hands,3 / Took off her life)
Malcolm to the thanes and soldiers
Act 5, Scene 8, line 82