Ricky Galea
Form 5 R.G.
Macbeth quotes
Act 1 Scene i
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Fair is foul, and foul is fair”
This is a paradox (= a statement that contradicts itself); they say that what is good is bad and what is
bad is good. This verse depicts that the events in the play will be evil and destructive.
Act 1 Scene ii
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”The merciless Macdonald –
Worthy to be a rebel”
Macdonald is a traitor to England.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”For brave Macbeth”
He is a brave, strong and fearless hero and a worthy and loyal subject to the king.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”… he unseamed from the nave to the chops,
And fixed his head upon our battlements.”
On the battlefield, he’s ruthless and bloodthirsty and he’s also aggressive and barbaric.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?”
Banquo is a captain fighting alongside Macbeth.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.”
This shows fear and anxiety, Scotland is weak, they are compared to sparrows and hare; while
Norway is compared to eagles and lion, this shows might and supremacy.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”As cannons overcharged with double cracks”
It is almost impossible for Scotland to win, but they manage to strike back at their best; instead of
retreating and giving up they overcharge with more effort, strength and determination.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”… most disloyal traitor
The Thane of Cawdor”
The Thane of Cawdor is a traitor like Macdonald.
1
, Ricky Galea
Form 5 R.G.
Act 1 Scene iii
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”I’ll drain him dry as hay;
Sleep shall neither night nor day”
The sailor’s wife refused to give the witch chestnuts, thus since the witches are cruel and vengeful,
they’ll create a havoc and a chaos; they will make an innocent sailor’s journey a living hell, they
medal with anyone’s life.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”The Weird sisters”
They are strange and can change one’s fate, his life.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”So foul and fair a day I have not seen.”
Foul = a lot of people died; fair = Scotland would win the battle. Macbeth’s first line alludes to the
initial prophecy of the witches. (“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”) This links him to the witches. The
audience make a logical connection that Macbeth will be linked with the evil conflict in the world of
the play.
i) “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”What are these,
So withered, and so wild in their attire,
They look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth”;
ii) “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”choppy finger”
iii) “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”skinny lips”
iv) “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”You should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.”
This is the description of the witches. Banquo doesn’t day who are these but what are these, this
shows that they are ugly, old and wild.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!
All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!
All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!”
He’s already Thane of Glamis, by Sinel’s death; a title which he got through nobility. He’ll soon
become Thane of Cawdor. Here occurs dramatic irony where the audience already know that soon
Ross and Angus will tell Macbeth that the King announced him as Thane of Cawdor, while Macbeth
(main character) doesn’t know yet. Finally he may have the future title of the king. He has become
proud and big-headed. However he is perplexed, because “Thane of Cawdor lives” and even the King
is alive. Macbeth reaction is that he’s startled, this is noted through Banquo’s dialogue just after the
witches’ prophecies for Macbeth.
2
, Ricky Galea
Form 5 R.G.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Speak then to me”
Banquo becomes curious as well, therefore he asks about his fate and destiny.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
Not so happy, yet much happier.
Though shalt get kings, though thou be none.
Lesser or greater than Macbeth? Happier or not? Who shall be king Macbeth or Banquo’s sons?
These are all paradoxes and contradictions. They are interpreted as one’s wants; thus they are
confusing. We can see that they are confusing because a bit later Macbeth says, “imperfect
speakers”
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”What, can the devil speak true?”
Banquo couldn’t believe the witches were saying the truth.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s
In deepest consequence.”
Here Banquo is trying to convince Macbeth that the witches are trying to lure them for them to do
bad things with their lives. However Macbeth is eager for power, thus Banquo warns him that the
outcome of his action can be disastrous to him.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Cannot be ill, cannot be good.”
Macbeth has an internal struggle between reason and conscience. Conflict: cannot be real to
become king; cannot be wrong since already 2 out of 3 were true. The 3 rd greeting is like a blow that
leaves him speechless and shaking. This is the beginning of the inner working of guilt feelings and
thoughts.
[Aside] “If chance will have me King, why chance may crown meAside] “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”If chance will have me King, why chance may crown me
Without my stir.”
Since he became Thane of Cawdor on its own, without murdering or killing him, he decides to leave
destiny to crown him king. Then he leaves everything to chance.
Act 1 Scene iv
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Is execution done on Cawdor? …”
Duncan is concerned whether Cawdor is dead or not, about his fate. Duncan is interested in his
people. He has a compassionate character and conscience.
3
Form 5 R.G.
Macbeth quotes
Act 1 Scene i
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Fair is foul, and foul is fair”
This is a paradox (= a statement that contradicts itself); they say that what is good is bad and what is
bad is good. This verse depicts that the events in the play will be evil and destructive.
Act 1 Scene ii
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”The merciless Macdonald –
Worthy to be a rebel”
Macdonald is a traitor to England.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”For brave Macbeth”
He is a brave, strong and fearless hero and a worthy and loyal subject to the king.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”… he unseamed from the nave to the chops,
And fixed his head upon our battlements.”
On the battlefield, he’s ruthless and bloodthirsty and he’s also aggressive and barbaric.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?”
Banquo is a captain fighting alongside Macbeth.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.”
This shows fear and anxiety, Scotland is weak, they are compared to sparrows and hare; while
Norway is compared to eagles and lion, this shows might and supremacy.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”As cannons overcharged with double cracks”
It is almost impossible for Scotland to win, but they manage to strike back at their best; instead of
retreating and giving up they overcharge with more effort, strength and determination.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”… most disloyal traitor
The Thane of Cawdor”
The Thane of Cawdor is a traitor like Macdonald.
1
, Ricky Galea
Form 5 R.G.
Act 1 Scene iii
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”I’ll drain him dry as hay;
Sleep shall neither night nor day”
The sailor’s wife refused to give the witch chestnuts, thus since the witches are cruel and vengeful,
they’ll create a havoc and a chaos; they will make an innocent sailor’s journey a living hell, they
medal with anyone’s life.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”The Weird sisters”
They are strange and can change one’s fate, his life.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”So foul and fair a day I have not seen.”
Foul = a lot of people died; fair = Scotland would win the battle. Macbeth’s first line alludes to the
initial prophecy of the witches. (“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”) This links him to the witches. The
audience make a logical connection that Macbeth will be linked with the evil conflict in the world of
the play.
i) “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”What are these,
So withered, and so wild in their attire,
They look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth”;
ii) “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”choppy finger”
iii) “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”skinny lips”
iv) “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”You should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.”
This is the description of the witches. Banquo doesn’t day who are these but what are these, this
shows that they are ugly, old and wild.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!
All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!
All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!”
He’s already Thane of Glamis, by Sinel’s death; a title which he got through nobility. He’ll soon
become Thane of Cawdor. Here occurs dramatic irony where the audience already know that soon
Ross and Angus will tell Macbeth that the King announced him as Thane of Cawdor, while Macbeth
(main character) doesn’t know yet. Finally he may have the future title of the king. He has become
proud and big-headed. However he is perplexed, because “Thane of Cawdor lives” and even the King
is alive. Macbeth reaction is that he’s startled, this is noted through Banquo’s dialogue just after the
witches’ prophecies for Macbeth.
2
, Ricky Galea
Form 5 R.G.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Speak then to me”
Banquo becomes curious as well, therefore he asks about his fate and destiny.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
Not so happy, yet much happier.
Though shalt get kings, though thou be none.
Lesser or greater than Macbeth? Happier or not? Who shall be king Macbeth or Banquo’s sons?
These are all paradoxes and contradictions. They are interpreted as one’s wants; thus they are
confusing. We can see that they are confusing because a bit later Macbeth says, “imperfect
speakers”
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”What, can the devil speak true?”
Banquo couldn’t believe the witches were saying the truth.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s
In deepest consequence.”
Here Banquo is trying to convince Macbeth that the witches are trying to lure them for them to do
bad things with their lives. However Macbeth is eager for power, thus Banquo warns him that the
outcome of his action can be disastrous to him.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Cannot be ill, cannot be good.”
Macbeth has an internal struggle between reason and conscience. Conflict: cannot be real to
become king; cannot be wrong since already 2 out of 3 were true. The 3 rd greeting is like a blow that
leaves him speechless and shaking. This is the beginning of the inner working of guilt feelings and
thoughts.
[Aside] “If chance will have me King, why chance may crown meAside] “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”If chance will have me King, why chance may crown me
Without my stir.”
Since he became Thane of Cawdor on its own, without murdering or killing him, he decides to leave
destiny to crown him king. Then he leaves everything to chance.
Act 1 Scene iv
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”Is execution done on Cawdor? …”
Duncan is concerned whether Cawdor is dead or not, about his fate. Duncan is interested in his
people. He has a compassionate character and conscience.
3
