Masculinity and gender: 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 6 of the 28 scenes; it runs strongest in Act 4 and quietest in Act 2.
- 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.
You should be women,1,2 / And yet your beards3 forbid me to interpret / That you are so.
Banquo to the Witches
Act 1, Scene 3, line 47
Yet do I fear thy nature;1 / It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness2 / To catch the nearest way.3
Lady Macbeth to the absent Macbeth (soliloquy)
Act 1, Scene 5, line 16
Come, you spirits1 / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex2 me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe3 top-full / Of direst cruelty.
Lady Macbeth to the spirits (soliloquy)
Act 1, Scene 5, line 47
Come to my woman's breasts1 / And take my milk for gall,2 you murd'ring ministers,3 / Wherever in your sightless substances / You wait on nature's mischief.
Lady Macbeth to the spirits (soliloquy)
Act 1, Scene 5, line 54
Only look up clear.1 / To alter favor ever is to fear.2 / Leave all the rest to me.3
Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
Act 1, Scene 5, line 84
Was the hope drunk1 / Wherein you dressed yourself?2 Hath it slept since? / And wakes it now, to look so green and pale3 / At what it did so freely?
Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
Act 1, Scene 7, line 39
From this time / Such I account thy love.1 Art thou afeard2 / To be the same in thine own act and valor / As thou art in desire?3
Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
Act 1, Scene 7, line 42
Wouldst thou have that / Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life / And live a coward1 in thine own esteem, / Letting “I dare not”2 wait upon “I would,” / Like the poor cat i' th' adage?3
Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
Act 1, Scene 7, line 45
Prithee, peace. / I dare do all that may become1 a man. / Who dares2 do more is none.3
Macbeth to Lady Macbeth
Act 1, Scene 7, line 50
When you durst1 do it, then you were a man;2 / And to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man.3
Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
Act 1, Scene 7, line 56
I have given suck,1 and know / How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me. / I would, while it was smiling in my face, / Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums2 / And dashed the brains out,3 had I so sworn as you / Have done to this.
Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
Act 1, Scene 7, line 62
We fail?1 / But screw your courage to the sticking place2 / And we'll not fail.3
Lady Macbeth to Macbeth
Act 1, Scene 7, line 69
Bring forth men-children only,1 / For thy undaunted mettle2 should compose / Nothing but males.3
Macbeth to Lady Macbeth
Act 1, Scene 7, line 83
That which hath made them drunk1 hath made me bold.2 / What hath quenched them hath given me fire.3
Lady Macbeth to herself (soliloquy)
Act 2, Scene 2, line 1