Macbeth Group

Question:

dianaa
dianaa
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What are the significance to these macbeth quotes? They are all in act 4.

1. That i may tell pale-hearted fear it lies/And sleep in spite of thunder(scene 1) 2. They crown does sear mine eyeballs(scene 1) 3.infected be the air whereon they ride/And damned all those trust them i did/ hear the galloping horse. who was it came by?(scene 1)

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Posted by dianaa on Wednesday October 15, 2008 at 4:41 PM and tagged with macbeth, macbeth significance.

Answers:

  1. dreamday
    dreamday Teacher
    Graduate School

    1) These lines suggest that Macbeth fears Macduff.  "Pale hearted fear" signifies the fear that Macbeth has for Macduff. This is one of Shakespeare's most expressive epithets. Since he has been reassured cunningly by the witch that " none of woman born" will kill Macbeth so Mabeth feels he will now be able to sleep properly. The witches lead Macbeth to a false sense of security which ultimately leads to Macbeth's doom.

    2) Macbeth asks the witch to tell him whether Banquo's issues would become king. They show him eight kings followed by Banquo's ghost. By seeing this spectacle his eyes burn in anger. This line signifies Macbeth's suffering. He realises that he has not been able to shut out the destiny of Banquo's heirs even after killing Banquo

    3) Macbeth realises that he did the wrong thing by trusting the witches. He is enraged at seeing the fate of Banquo's hair and the news of Macduff's flight immediately follows the above lines. The prediction seems to come true instantly and Macbeth is damned from no on.

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    Posted by dreamday on Wednesday October 22, 2008 at 2:24 AM