Nature and order: 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 1 of the 28 scenes; it runs strongest in Act 2 and quietest in Act 3.
- 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.
The night has been unruly.1 Where we lay, / Our chimneys were blown down and, as they say, / Lamentings heard i' th' air, strange screams of death,2 / And prophesying, with accents terrible, / Of dire combustion and confused events / New hatched to th' woeful time. The obscure bird / Clamored the livelong night. Some say the Earth / Was feverous and did shake.3
Lennox to Macbeth
Act 2, Scene 3, line 61
By th' clock 'tis day,1 / And yet dark night strangles2 the traveling lamp.3
Ross to the Old Man
Act 2, Scene 4, line 8
'Tis unnatural,1 / Even like the deed2 that's done.
Old Man to Ross
Act 2, Scene 4, line 13
A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place,1 / Was by a mousing owl2 hawked3 at and killed.
Old Man to Ross
Act 2, Scene 4, line 15
And Duncan's horses (a thing most strange and certain), / Beauteous and swift,1 the minions2 of their race, / Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, / Contending 'gainst obedience,3 as they would / Make war with mankind.
Ross to the Old Man
Act 2, Scene 4, line 17
Come, seeling1 night, / Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day / And with thy bloody and invisible hand2 / Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond3 / Which keeps me pale.4
Macbeth to night (Lady Macbeth beside him)
Act 3, Scene 2, line 52
Who did strike1 out the light?2
Third Murderer to the other Murderers
Act 3, Scene 3, line 27
Stand not upon the order1 of your going, / But go at once.2
Lady Macbeth to the Lords
Act 3, Scene 4, line 146
That, by the help of these (with Him above / To ratify the work),1 we may again / Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,2 / Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives,3 / Do faithful homage, and receive free honors, / All which we pine for now.
Lord to Lennox
Act 3, Scene 6, line 36
He loves us not; / He wants the natural1 touch; for the poor wren, / The most diminutive of birds,2 will fight, / Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.3
Lady Macduff to Ross
Act 4, Scene 2, line 10
Whither should I fly?1 / I have done no harm. But I remember now / I am in this earthly world, where to do harm / Is often laudable,2 to do good sometime / Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas, / Do I put up that womanly defense3 / To say I have done no harm?
Lady Macduff to herself, with her son beside her
Act 4, Scene 2, line 81
The night is long1 that never finds the day.2,3
Malcolm to Macduff and Ross
Act 4, Scene 3, line 282
Foul whisp'rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.1 Infected minds2 / To their deaf pillows3 will discharge their secrets.
Doctor to the Gentlewoman
Act 5, Scene 1, line 75
I 'gin to be aweary of the sun1 / And wish th' estate o' th' world were now undone.2,3
Macbeth to himself (thinking aloud)
Act 5, Scene 5, line 55