| ‘killing swine’ | – the witches are perceived to be more powerful than they actually are. |
| ‘I’ll drain him dry as hay’ | – the sailor’s fate is comparable to Macbeth’s by the end of the play, draining him morally, mentally and physically/ |
| ‘sleep shall neither night or day’ | – the witches are also going to torture the sailor by stopping the natural aspect of his life such as sleep.- Shakespeare is foreshadowing Macbeth’s decline the madness by mentioning the torturous act of insomnia. – the lack of sleep is reference throughout the play as an illness causing Macbeth’s decline into insanity; brought on by the supernatural (unnatural) witches. |
| ‘ I’ll give thee wind’ | – Shakespeare further develops the theme of the supernatural by describing the witches powers, as they control the winds. |
| ‘Though his bark cannot be lost, yet it shall be tempest – tossed’ | – The witches can interfere with the sailor’s journey but can’t kill him directly = This can be linked to Macbeth’s own downfall as it is prophesied by the witches but only directly influenced by Macbeth himself. |
| ‘why do you start, and seem to fear things that you do sound so fair’ | – Shakespeare compares both Banquo and Macbeth in order to convey the idea that Macbeth’s eventual downfall is nobody’s but his = Banquo is a better man as he immediately dismisses the prophecies told by the witches.- Macbeth is scared of the thought of becoming king as it would mean murder. This contrasts the use of execution in Act 1 Scene 1 which describes the lawful killing by Macbeth.- Banquo also questions Macbeth’s integrity by asking Macbeth whether or not he had previous thoughts of gaining kingship due to his anxious reaction. |
| Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at the ribs | – Macbeth is haunted by the mental image of him murdering King Duncan.- This juxtaposes Macbeth in later scenes where he is then extremely paranoid and emotionless. |
| So foul and fair a day I have not seen | – Macbeth begins to speak much like the witches back in Scene 1.- This once again relates Macbeth to the theme and connotations of the supernatural. |
| Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more | – Shakespeare uses the imperative verb of ‘stay’ to impose his power upon the seemingly ‘imperfect’ speakers, describes how Macbeth wants the help of inferior beings. |
| Breath in the wind | – The witches have disappeared into ‘thin air’ = links the witches to the idea of the supernatural. |
| What, can the devil speak true? | – Banquo is associating the witches with the devil, directly comparing them to the theme of the supernatural. |
| [Aside] Present fears are less than horrible imaginings- | – Macbeth is terrified of the thoughts of killing Duncan but ponders how the physical action would be a lot easier.- Shakespeare’s use of [Aside] describes these thoughts as personal to Macbeth, reinforcing his deteriorating mental state. |
Macbeth Act 1 Scene 3 Quotes
August 27, 2019