Macbeth Quotations Analysis
Macbeth Spotting Quotations
Stars, hide your fires,
Let not light see my black and deep desires,
The eye wink at the hand. Yet let that be,
Which the eye fears when it is done to see. (I, v, 50-53)
The above quotation is said by Macbeth, though it is being said [Aside] (or to himself) as Duncan, Malcolm, and Banquo are not supposed to know of his dark feelings. First off, this creates dramatic irony because the audience knows something that the characters do not. It also creates suspense in this atmosphere due to the dramatic irony. This quotation is important to the character development of Macbeth because it shows us that he has already developed cruel desires. He is aware of such feelings escalading so he mentions to the “stars” to hide his dark feelings from the “light”; he does not want the truth to be exposed to everyone. Even to himself, Macbeth is reluctant to know what his hands are capable of, quoting it as “The eye wink at the hand […] / Which the eye fears when it is done to see.” This quotation means that one should not see what the hand is doing because one might fear of the sight caused by the hands. By stating “Yet let that be,” it is concluded that Macbeth believes in the witches predictions so he is willing to let things happen as they have predicted. With hints such as his dark desires and his belief in the witches casting, foreshadowing is created: blood will be shed in order to make the predictions come true. This quotation is to some extent associated with the theme of violence because foreshadowing of crimes is made: something fearful is supposed to happen. As well, the theme of fate is explored with the word “stars” because the predictions are bound to come true, due to “stars” controlling fate; back in Shakespeare’s time, people believed that the alignment of stars meant their own fate or destiny was already set. Macbeth will not do anything against the predictions because he starts to believe that it is his fate to become King
Stars, hide your fires,
Let not light see my black and deep desires,
The eye wink at the hand. Yet let that be,
Which the eye fears when it is done to see. (I, v, 50-53)
The above quotation is said by Macbeth, though it is being said [Aside] (or to himself) as Duncan, Malcolm, and Banquo are not supposed to know of his dark feelings. First off, this creates dramatic irony because the audience knows something that the characters do not. It also creates suspense in this atmosphere due to the dramatic irony. This quotation is important to the character development of Macbeth because it shows us that he has already developed cruel desires. He is aware of such feelings escalading so he mentions to the “stars” to hide his dark feelings from the “light”; he does not want the truth to be exposed to everyone. Even to himself, Macbeth is reluctant to know what his hands are capable of, quoting it as “The eye wink at the hand […] / Which the eye fears when it is done to see.” This quotation means that one should not see what the hand is doing because one might fear of the sight caused by the hands. By stating “Yet let that be,” it is concluded that Macbeth believes in the witches predictions so he is willing to let things happen as they have predicted. With hints such as his dark desires and his belief in the witches casting, foreshadowing is created: blood will be shed in order to make the predictions come true. This quotation is to some extent associated with the theme of violence because foreshadowing of crimes is made: something fearful is supposed to happen. As well, the theme of fate is explored with the word “stars” because the predictions are bound to come true, due to “stars” controlling fate; back in Shakespeare’s time, people believed that the alignment of stars meant their own fate or destiny was already set. Macbeth will not do anything against the predictions because he starts to believe that it is his fate to become King