Term

Ambition

Definition

“Vaulting ambition” – Ambition can lead to ruin. Metaphor shows it is out of control. “Stars, hide your fires” – Macbeth wants to hide his dark desires; light vs dark imagery shows secrecy. “Screw your courage to the sticking-place” – Lady Macbeth tells him to commit fully; metaphor shows control and determination. “Only vaulting ambition” – Ambition is his only reason to act; metaphor shows drive overrides morality. “The greatest is behind” – Witches spark his ambition to be king; dramatic irony builds tension. “To be safely thus” – Being king isn’t enough, he wants security; repetition shows obsession and anxiety. “King, Cawdor, Glamis, all” – Lady Macbeth notes their ambition succeeded; listing shows completeness and tension. “For mine own good” – He acts selfishly because of ambition; absolutism shows morality is gone. “In blood stepped in so far” – He feels trapped by ambition and crimes; blood imagery shows guilt and consequences.

Term

Kingship

Definition

“Thou shalt be king hereafter” – The witches spark Macbeth’s desire for power showing prophecy and foreshadowing “Hail, King of Scotland” – Macbeth is crowned showing symbolism of authority and ambition “To be thus is nothing” – Macbeth feels being king is useless without security showing repetition and obsession “We will proceed no further in this business” – Macbeth hesitates to kill Duncan showing moral struggle and loyalty “He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour” – Duncan is praised as a good king showing admiration and heroic imagery “Kings are but shepherds of their people” – Shakespeare shows ideal kingship through responsibility and metaphor “My dearest partner of greatness” – Lady Macbeth links kingship to ambition showing metaphor and partnership in power “Our fears in Banquo stick deep” – Macbeth sees threats to his kingship showing insecurity and foreshadowing “The Prince of Cumberland” – Malcolm’s title shows the natural line of succession and order of kingship “So foul and fair a day I have not seen” – Macbeth’s first line links him to fate and kingship showing irony and foreshadowing

Term

Violence

Definition

“Unseam’d him from the nave to the chaps” – Macbeth kills with brutal skill showing his violence and power through graphic imagery “Make thick my blood” – Lady Macbeth asks to be hardened to commit murder showing metaphor and foreshadowing of violence “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it” – She encourages deceptive violence showing metaphor for hidden danger “I am in blood stepped in so far” – Macbeth feels trapped in his violent acts showing imagery of blood and guilt “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood” – Macbeth knows his violent act cannot be undone showing hyperbole and guilt “Out, damned spot” – Lady Macbeth hallucinates blood from violence showing imagery of guilt and madness "They have tied me to a stake I cannot fly” – Macbeth describes being stuck by the consequences of violence showing metaphor “What, will these hands ne’er be clean” – Lady Macbeth’s hands symbolize her violent deeds showing repetition and imagery “Give to the edge o’ the sword” – Direct call to kill showing violent imagery and imperative language “It will have blood they say” – Guilt incites violence showing foreshadowing and metaphor