Macbeth Passage Analysis
Passage Analysis of Macbeth – 1.3.125-142
Hadi Abdul
This passage in Macbeth is important as it shows the feelings the three witches’ prophecies caused to Macbeth and is important because it seems from Macbeth’s reaction, these feelings will play an important role in the rest of the play. “Two truths are told, as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme!” at first he 100 percent believes he will be king because the first two prophecies from the witches came true. There’s foreshadowing in these first 3 lines as it is portraying to us that he will be king in the future, Macbeth and the audience just don’t know how or when. “This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good” shows his temptation for power. From the line “Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill” to the line “Are less than horrible imaginings” shows how he then becomes trapped in two minds if the last prophecy is a bad or good thing. He basically already decided he’s going to be king but taking in the fact he might do something horrible to achieve it which portrays a dark mood that will overshadow the play. Another reason why these 8 lines are significant because it shows his personality changed into a more questioning and doubtful person who is tempted by the idea of power which might be a sign that the three witches are succeeded in their plan to transform Macbeth in to a more evil person. The last 4 lines in the passage are really where it tells us the direction Macbeth is leaning towards too. Even though his body is telling him that he shouldn't be thinking about murdering King Duncan, he can't help himself. “And nothing is but what is not” which is a paradox related to the words of the witches in the beginning of the play "Fair is foul, and foul is fair," which means good is bad and bad is good. This might mean that Macbeth has opened himself up to an evil like the witches and is willing to kill the King if he thinks he’s the one who has
Hadi Abdul
This passage in Macbeth is important as it shows the feelings the three witches’ prophecies caused to Macbeth and is important because it seems from Macbeth’s reaction, these feelings will play an important role in the rest of the play. “Two truths are told, as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme!” at first he 100 percent believes he will be king because the first two prophecies from the witches came true. There’s foreshadowing in these first 3 lines as it is portraying to us that he will be king in the future, Macbeth and the audience just don’t know how or when. “This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good” shows his temptation for power. From the line “Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill” to the line “Are less than horrible imaginings” shows how he then becomes trapped in two minds if the last prophecy is a bad or good thing. He basically already decided he’s going to be king but taking in the fact he might do something horrible to achieve it which portrays a dark mood that will overshadow the play. Another reason why these 8 lines are significant because it shows his personality changed into a more questioning and doubtful person who is tempted by the idea of power which might be a sign that the three witches are succeeded in their plan to transform Macbeth in to a more evil person. The last 4 lines in the passage are really where it tells us the direction Macbeth is leaning towards too. Even though his body is telling him that he shouldn't be thinking about murdering King Duncan, he can't help himself. “And nothing is but what is not” which is a paradox related to the words of the witches in the beginning of the play "Fair is foul, and foul is fair," which means good is bad and bad is good. This might mean that Macbeth has opened himself up to an evil like the witches and is willing to kill the King if he thinks he’s the one who has