Instances of Macbeth's Ambitions
Macbeth
Where can you see that Macbeth is ambitious? Pp. 21-23.
Do you not hope your children shall be kings,
When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me
Promised no less to them? (p. 21 ll. Ovenover 120)
- Aren’t you beginning to hope your children will be kings? After all, the witches who said I was thane of Cawdor promised them nothing less. (p. 21 “Do you hope your children shall be kings…”)
I am thane of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings. (p. 23 ll. 133)
- Now I’m the thane of Cawdor, just like they said I would be. But if this is a good thing, why do I find myself thinking about murdering King Duncan, a thought so horrifying that it makes my hair stand on end and my heart pound inside my chest? The dangers that actually threaten me here and now frighten me less than the horrible things I’m imagining (p. 23 “I am thane of Cawdor…”)
Find and analyse imagery (metaphor, similé, personification) pp. 29-31.
Welcome hither.
I have begun to plant thee, and will labor
To make thee full of growing. (p. 29 ll. Ovenover 30)
- DUNCAN: You are welcome here. By making you thane of Cawdor, I have planted the seeds of a great career for you, and I will make sure they grow (p. 29) METHAPHOR
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers. (p. 29 l. 41)
- Duncan: titles of nobility will shine like stars on all of you who deserve them (p. 29) SIMILE
Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. (p. 31 l. 50)
- Stars, hide your light so no one can see the terrible desires within me. I won’t let my eye look at what my hand is doing, but in the end I’m still going to do that thing I’d be horrified to see (p. 31) METHAPHOR
Where can you see that Macbeth is ambitious? Pp. 21-23.
Do you not hope your children shall be kings,
When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me
Promised no less to them? (p. 21 ll. Ovenover 120)
- Aren’t you beginning to hope your children will be kings? After all, the witches who said I was thane of Cawdor promised them nothing less. (p. 21 “Do you hope your children shall be kings…”)
I am thane of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings. (p. 23 ll. 133)
- Now I’m the thane of Cawdor, just like they said I would be. But if this is a good thing, why do I find myself thinking about murdering King Duncan, a thought so horrifying that it makes my hair stand on end and my heart pound inside my chest? The dangers that actually threaten me here and now frighten me less than the horrible things I’m imagining (p. 23 “I am thane of Cawdor…”)
Find and analyse imagery (metaphor, similé, personification) pp. 29-31.
Welcome hither.
I have begun to plant thee, and will labor
To make thee full of growing. (p. 29 ll. Ovenover 30)
- DUNCAN: You are welcome here. By making you thane of Cawdor, I have planted the seeds of a great career for you, and I will make sure they grow (p. 29) METHAPHOR
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers. (p. 29 l. 41)
- Duncan: titles of nobility will shine like stars on all of you who deserve them (p. 29) SIMILE
Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. (p. 31 l. 50)
- Stars, hide your light so no one can see the terrible desires within me. I won’t let my eye look at what my hand is doing, but in the end I’m still going to do that thing I’d be horrified to see (p. 31) METHAPHOR