ENG3U Name: ______________

Quote Analysis
Identify (1) the speaker and who he/she is speaking with or to; (2) what was happening in the
play when the words were spoken; (3) the significance of the quotation (why is it an important
quotation).

1) Fair is foul, and foul is fair. (1.1)

The speaker is the witches talk to the audience. Fair means the good or while foul means
the bad thing or bad actions. So that, there is the conflict in the quote.

2) Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

Not so happy, yet much happier.
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. (1.3)
The speaker is the witches talk to Banquo. “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater” suggests that
Banquo will be less power but he is greater in his moral standing.” Not so happy, yet much
happier.” Banquo’s happiness is different from macbeth, his son becomes the king while
macbeth’s hapiness is the power or social statue.” Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none”
macbeth will become the king but Banquo is not.

3) Glamis thou are, and Cawdor, and shalt be

What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature.
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way. (1.5)
The speaker is lady macbeth talk to herself. It defines as a thought of lady macbeth that macbeth
will be the king and she is afraid of his kindness will stop him to reach his goal.

4) He’s here in double trust:

First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
Who should against the murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. (1.7)

The speaker is macbeth talk to himself. The significant is the moral and loyalty which remains
before he kills the king.

5) Thou hast it now – King, Cawdor, Glamis, all

As the Weird Women promised, and I fear
Thou played’st most foully for ‘t. (3.1)

The speaker is banquo talk to himself. The significant which is Banquo’s suspicion about the
way Macbeth becomes the king.

6) Is this a dagger I see before me,

The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
ENG3U Name: ______________

To feeling as to sight, or art thou but

A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain. (2.1)

The speaker is macbeth talk to himself. The significant which is macbeth’s state of mind before
killing the king, he is between conscious and unconscious state, the dagger is also represented
the guilt.

7) We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it:

She'll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth. (3.2)

The speaker is macbeth talk to lady macbeth. He is worried about the son of Banquo who
survives after the assassination and he is afraid of being revenge. It also shows that he has
completely turn into a murderer.