Question 1

But to be safely thus: our fears in Banquo
Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be feared.

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: Macbeth is fearful of Banquo and his prophesy coming true and feels he did all of Banquo's work for him.

Question 2

For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered;
Put rancors in the vessel of my peace
Only for them, and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: Macbeth is fearful of Banquo and his prophesy coming true and feels he did all of Banquo's work for him.

Question 3

Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect,
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,
As broad and general as the casing air:
But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confined, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: His confidence and happy mood has been broken and he is now anxious to hear that Fleance has escaped

Question 4

Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,
The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger;
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never tremble

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: "Come face me as anything but as a ghost!" Macbeth wishes Banquo's ghost was rather an animal or beast so he could take him on. His guilty conscience haunts him.

Question 5

By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Second Witch
Meaning: A foreboding sense of evil or danger is imminent/Macbeth is evil

Question 6

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff;
Beware the thane of Fife.

Accepted Answer

Speaker: First Apparition
Meaning: "Be careful of Macduff!" This plants paranoia in Macbeth, which leads him to kill Macduff's family to eliminate Macduff as a threat.

Question 7

Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn
The power of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth.

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Second Apparition
Meaning: Macbeth rashly and overconfidently thinks this guarantee cancels out the first one as he thinks it means that he can't be harmed. However, it was equivocation, as the guarantee is saying that only Macduff can kill him.

Question 8

Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until
Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Third Apparition
Meaning: Literally, no one can defeat Macbeth as long as the Birnam forest doesn't move towards his castle. This builds Macbeth's foolish overconfidence and misguided security. This guarantee actually refers to Malcolm's tactics

Question 9

Yet my heart
Throbs to know one thing; tell me, if your art
Can tell so much; shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: Macbeth is asking the witches if they can tell him whether Banquo's children will become kings or not (out of anxious heart that he might be defeated) (issue = progeny)

Question 10

**A show of Eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand; GHOST OF BANQUO following**

Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!
Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: Macbeth sees the vision of Banquo's progeny becoming kings and is filled with dread as he wishes the inevitable future to not happen. This further drives him to madness and tyranny.

Question 11

The castle of Macduff I will surprise;
Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool;
This deed I'll do before this purpose cool.

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: Marks the escalation of Macbeth's tyranny and brutality. His willingness to murder women, children, and other innocents through unwarranted ambush shows his descent into madness.

Question 12

Yet here's a spot...
... Out damned sport! out I say!...
Yet who would have thought the old man
to have had so much blood in him.

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Lady Macbeth
Meaning: She is sleepwalking out of guilt and trying to wash away her immense guilt, and she can't shake it off no matter how much she tries.

Question 13

Here's the smell of the blood still: all the
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little
hand. Oh, oh, oh!

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Lady Macbeth
Meaning: Still sleepwalking, Lady Macbeth declares no amount of trying to forget of the murder clears her of her guilt (this scene geniusly makes her character sympathizable)

Question 14

Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets:
More needs she the Divine than the physician.
God, God, forgive us all!

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Old doctor
Meaning: The guilt Lady Macbeth suffers from is not curable through medicine, but only through confession, repentance, and reconciling forgiveness.

Question 15

Let every soldier hew down a bough
And bear't before him: thereby shall we shadow
The numbers of our host and make discovery
Err in report of us

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Malcolm
Meaning: Let every soldier cut and carry a tree branch in front of them as camouflage to mask their numbers (the fulfillment of the prophesy)

Question 16

I have lived long enough: my way of life
Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf;
And that which should accompany old age,

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: I have lived a long life

Question 17

As honour, love, obediance, troops of friends,
I must not look to have; but, in their stead,
Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath,

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: The things that normally come with old age such as respect and love I have none of due to my evil actions and all I have are curses and enemies.

Question 18

To-morrow and tomorrow and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: Time seems to go by very slowly

Question 19

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death, Out, out, brief candle!

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: Macbeth says that all our past days have brought us closer to death, and he wants the brief candle of life to end quickly

Question 20

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: Macbeth is filled with existential despair and views life as meaningless.

Question 21

They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, But, bear-like, I must fight the course. What's he that was not born of woman?

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macbeth
Meaning: Macbeth speaks as Malcolm has trapped him in his castle by siege. He declares he will fight on and clings on to his misinterpretation that he is invincible for he is not aware of Macduff's C-section birth.

Question 22

Despair thy charm;
And let the angle whom thou still hast served
Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb
Untimely ripped

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Macduff
Meaning: Macduff reveals to Macbeth that he was born through a C-section, which makes him not "born of a woman" and able to defeat Macbeth.

Question 23

We shall not spend a large expense of time
Before we reckon with your several loves,
And make us even with you.

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Malcolm
Meaning: Malcolm promises his follower's loyalty and support will be swiftly rewarded

Question 24

My thanes and kinsmen,
Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland
In such an honour named.

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Malcolm
Meaning: Malcolm raises the loyal thanes to be earls, which was previously an unused title in Scotland

Question 25

What's more to do,
Which would be planted newly with the time,
As calling home our exiled friends abroad
That fled the snares of watchful tyranny;

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Malcolm
Meaning: Malcolm promises to bring back those who were outlawed or fled from Macbeth

Question 26

Producing forth the cruel ministers
Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Malcolm
Meaning: Malcolm promises to bring justice upon Macbeth's followers

Question 27

Who, as tis thought, by self and violent hands took off her life;

Accepted Answer

Speaker: Malcolm
Meaning: Lady Macbeth is thought to have committed suicide

Question 28

this, and what needful else
That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace,
We will perform in measure, time and place:

Accepted Answer

Malcolm says he will take care of whatever is needed by God's grace and help

Question 29

So thanks to all at once and to each one,
Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone.

Accepted Answer

Malcolm thanks each and every one of them and invites them to see him crowned at Scone. The speech marks restoration of order, justice, peace in Scotland after the chaos and tyranny of Macbeth. Malcolm inspires hope and renewal.

Macbeth Act 3-5

Macbeth Act 3-5 Quotes

Quote	Speaker & Meaning
But to be safely thus: our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared.	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: Macbeth is fearful of Banquo and his prophesy coming true and feels he did all of Banquo's work for him.
For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered; Put rancors in the vessel of my peace Only for them, and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: Macbeth is fearful of Banquo and his prophesy coming true and feels he did all of Banquo's work for him.
Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect, Whole as the marble, founded as the rock, As broad and general as the casing air: But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confined, bound in To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquo's safe?	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: His confidence and happy mood has been broken and he is now anxious to hear that Fleance has escaped
Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger; Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: "Come face me as anything but as a ghost!" Macbeth wishes Banquo's ghost was rather an animal or beast so he could take him on. His guilty conscience haunts him.
By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes.	Speaker: Second Witch Meaning: A foreboding sense of evil or danger is imminent/Macbeth is evil
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife.	Speaker: First Apparition Meaning: "Be careful of Macduff!" This plants paranoia in Macbeth, which leads him to kill Macduff's family to eliminate Macduff as a threat.
Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.	Speaker: Second Apparition Meaning: Macbeth rashly and overconfidently thinks this guarantee cancels out the first one as he thinks it means that he can't be harmed. However, it was equivocation, as the guarantee is saying that only Macduff can kill him.
Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill	Speaker: Third Apparition Meaning: Literally, no one can defeat Macbeth as long as the Birnam forest doesn't move towards his castle. This builds Macbeth's foolish overconfidence and misguided security. This guarantee actually refers to Malcolm's tactics
Yet my heart Throbs to know one thing; tell me, if your art Can tell so much; shall Banquo's issue ever Reign in this kingdom?	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: Macbeth is asking the witches if they can tell him whether Banquo's children will become kings or not (out of anxious heart that he might be defeated) (issue = progeny)
A show of Eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand; GHOST OF BANQUO following Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down! Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: Macbeth sees the vision of Banquo's progeny becoming kings and is filled with dread as he wishes the inevitable future to not happen. This further drives him to madness and tyranny.
The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; This deed I'll do before this purpose cool.	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: Marks the escalation of Macbeth's tyranny and brutality. His willingness to murder women, children, and other innocents through unwarranted ambush shows his descent into madness.
Yet here's a spot... ... Out damned sport! out I say!... Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.	Speaker: Lady Macbeth Meaning: She is sleepwalking out of guilt and trying to wash away her immense guilt, and she can't shake it off no matter how much she tries.
Here's the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh!	Speaker: Lady Macbeth Meaning: Still sleepwalking, Lady Macbeth declares no amount of trying to forget of the murder clears her of her guilt (this scene geniusly makes her character sympathizable)
Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets: More needs she the Divine than the physician. God, God, forgive us all!	Speaker: Old doctor Meaning: The guilt Lady Macbeth suffers from is not curable through medicine, but only through confession, repentance, and reconciling forgiveness.
Let every soldier hew down a bough And bear't before him: thereby shall we shadow The numbers of our host and make discovery Err in report of us	Speaker: Malcolm Meaning: Let every soldier cut and carry a tree branch in front of them as camouflage to mask their numbers (the fulfillment of the prophesy)
I have lived long enough: my way of life Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf; And that which should accompany old age,	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: I have lived a long life
As honour, love, obediance, troops of friends, I must not look to have; but, in their stead, Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath,	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: The things that normally come with old age such as respect and love I have none of due to my evil actions and all I have are curses and enemies.
To-morrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: Time seems to go by very slowly
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death, Out, out, brief candle!	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: Macbeth says that all our past days have brought us closer to death, and he wants the brief candle of life to end quickly
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: Macbeth is filled with existential despair and views life as meaningless.
They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, But, bear-like, I must fight the course. What's he that was not born of woman?	Speaker: Macbeth Meaning: Macbeth speaks as Malcolm has trapped him in his castle by siege. He declares he will fight on and clings on to his misinterpretation that he is invincible for he is not aware of Macduff's C-section birth.
Despair thy charm; And let the angle whom thou still hast served Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripped	Speaker: Macduff Meaning: Macduff reveals to Macbeth that he was born through a C-section, which makes him not "born of a woman" and able to defeat Macbeth.
We shall not spend a large expense of time Before we reckon with your several loves, And make us even with you.	Speaker: Malcolm Meaning: Malcolm promises his follower's loyalty and support will be swiftly rewarded
My thanes and kinsmen, Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland In such an honour named.	Speaker: Malcolm Meaning: Malcolm raises the loyal thanes to be earls, which was previously an unused title in Scotland
What's more to do, Which would be planted newly with the time, As calling home our exiled friends abroad That fled the snares of watchful tyranny;	Speaker: Malcolm Meaning: Malcolm promises to bring back those who were outlawed or fled from Macbeth
Producing forth the cruel ministers Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen	Speaker: Malcolm Meaning: Malcolm promises to bring justice upon Macbeth's followers
Who, as tis thought, by self and violent hands took off her life;	Speaker: Malcolm Meaning: Lady Macbeth is thought to have committed suicide
this, and what needful else That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace, We will perform in measure, time and place:	Malcolm says he will take care of whatever is needed by God's grace and help
So thanks to all at once and to each one, Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone.	Malcolm thanks each and every one of them and invites them to see him crowned at Scone. The speech marks restoration of order, justice, peace in Scotland after the chaos and tyranny of Macbeth. Malcolm inspires hope and renewal.

"Know" box contains:
Time elapsed:
Retries: