Questions tagged [macbeth]
For questions about Macbeth, a play by William Shakespeare. Note that this is a work tag and not a character tag for the man Macbeth. Use in conjunction with [william-shakespeare].
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Why is the Macbeth quote about "doth unfix my hair" so important?
I'm confused about what this quote means and why it's popular. Could someone explain it?
From Act 1 Scene 3:
Macbeth If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
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Does the text of Macbeth support the idea that the plot is cyclical?
For what it's worth, the question contains "spoilers" as to the plot of William Shakespeare's Macbeth.
At the weekend, I went to see a production of Macbeth that had taken some fairly major ...
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What is the purpose of the food motifs in Macbeth Act 4 scene 1?
For example, the following lines:
Against the churches, though the yeasty waves
Confound and swallow navigation up,
Through bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down,
Though castles topple on their ...
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What do these parts of Hecate's speech in Act 3 scene 5 from Macbeth mean?
The lines are the following:
How did you dare
to trade and traffic with Macbeth …
(…)
shall draw him on to his confusion.
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
his hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and ...
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What evidence is there that Hecate's speech in Act IV, Scene 1 of Macbeth was added in later? [duplicate]
In Act IV, Scene 1 of Macbeth, the famous "Double, double toil and trouble" scene, Hecate shows up for a brief moment to comment on the brewing:
Enter Hecate to the other three Witches.
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Was Macbeth considering murdering Duncan before Lady Macbeth encouraged him to?
In Macbeth, after announcing that he will go be a harbinger for Duncan and make things ready for him at Inverness, Macbeth says this aside to himself:
Macbeth
[Aside]
The Prince of Cumberland! that ...
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What does "Nor our strong sorrow, upon the foot of motion" mean?
After the murder of Duncan in Macbeth, his two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, have this discussion after being informed of the murder of their father:
Malcolm [Aside to Donalbain]
Why do we hold our ...
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What does "..and make joyful the hearing of my wife with your approach" mean?
In Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 4, Duncan, the king, announces that Malcolm will be the Prince of Cumberland (and not Macbeth). Macbeth says that he'll go forward as a harbinger:
Duncan
[...]
We will ...
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What does "I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do" mean?
In Macbeth, while the witches are having their little meeting before going to meet Macbeth and tell him that he's going to be king, one of the witches details her plan of revenge against a greedy &...
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What does "master o' the Tiger" mean?
In Macbeth, before the witches go to speak to Macbeth, they have a little meeting where they discuss what they've been up to. That includes this bit about a greedy sailor's wife who won't share her ...
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Why does Macbeth well deserve his name?
In the beginning of Macbeth, before Macbeth himself is actually introduced, we get a little overview of what's been happening from the Sergeant. He says this, which includes this aside about Macbeth's ...
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Literary devices in "Thou wouldst be great" et cetera in Macbeth
From Macbeth, Act I Scene V:
Lady Macbeth: Thou wouldst be great;
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it.
I understand what the quote means, but which literary devices ...
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Why could Banquo see the three witches?
If the three witches were a figment of Macbeth's own imagination, why was Banquo able to see them at the beginning of the play as well?
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Why does the prophecy imply Macbeth has to murder the king?
I’m reading Macbeth for the first time. The witches prophecize that Macbeth will become king. He and Lady Macbeth immediately jump to the conclusion that this means he has to assassinate Duncan, the ...
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Who is 'he' in 'He has no children?'
In Act 4, scene 3, Macduff is talking with Malcolm. He has just heard the news that his wife and children have been murdered by Macbeth's forces. Then he says,
He has no children.
Who is "he&...
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