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Definition of Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor can be stated explicitly, as... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other... read full definition
Act 1, scene 3
Explanation and Analysis—Seeds and Roots:
Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of seeds and roots to illustrate themes of kingship and lineage. Duncan's use of imagery in Act 1, Scene 4, for example, suggests that he views Scotland as a kind of vast garden, with himself as the caretaker:
Duncan: I have begun to plant thee and will labor
To make thee full of growing.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Strange Garments:
At multiple points throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of clothing to explore themes of power and masculinity.
In Act 1, Scene 3, Ross and Angus address Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth, disturbed that the Weird Sisters' prophecy seems to have been fulfilled, insists that the title does not belong to him:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Macbeth: The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me
In borrowed robes?
Related Themes:
Act 1, scene 4
Explanation and Analysis—Seeds and Roots:
Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of seeds and roots to illustrate themes of kingship and lineage. Duncan's use of imagery in Act 1, Scene 4, for example, suggests that he views Scotland as a kind of vast garden, with himself as the caretaker:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Duncan: I have begun to plant thee and will labor
To make thee full of growing.
Related Themes:
Act 1, scene 5
Explanation and Analysis—Birds:
Birds are mentioned multiple times throughout Macbeth and serve several different purposes. The presence of different types of birds is often used to set the mood of a scene, characters are compared to birds to emphasize certain character traits, and birds function as a motif to represent the theme of the unnatural.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Milk and Blood:
In Macbeth, milk and blood are both motifs that combine to represent the upholding and sundering of kinship bonds. At one point, Malcolm refers to the "sweet milk of concord," and when milk is mentioned, it is often associated with motherhood and used to symbolize compassion, family, and unity. In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth will be unable to commit an act as ruthless as murder because he is "too full o' th' milk of human kindness," metaphorically linking milk to feelings of care and compassion for others. Lady Macbeth again refers to milk when she calls on supernatural forces to purge her of her femininity:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Lady Macbeth: Come to my woman's breasts
And take my milk for gall
Related Themes:
Act 1, scene 6
Explanation and Analysis—Birds:
Birds are mentioned multiple times throughout Macbeth and serve several different purposes. The presence of different types of birds is often used to set the mood of a scene, characters are compared to birds to emphasize certain character traits, and birds function as a motif to represent the theme of the unnatural.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 1, scene 7
Explanation and Analysis—Milk and Blood:
In Macbeth, milk and blood are both motifs that combine to represent the upholding and sundering of kinship bonds. At one point, Malcolm refers to the "sweet milk of concord," and when milk is mentioned, it is often associated with motherhood and used to symbolize compassion, family, and unity. In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth will be unable to commit an act as ruthless as murder because he is "too full o' th' milk of human kindness," metaphorically linking milk to feelings of care and compassion for others. Lady Macbeth again refers to milk when she calls on supernatural forces to purge her of her femininity:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Lady Macbeth: Come to my woman's breasts
And take my milk for gall
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Disease and Medicine:
Macbeth is filled with references to both physical and psychological illness. The motif of disease often represents the inner turmoil of characters warped by ambition, while the motif of medicine is associated with political order.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Strange Garments:
At multiple points throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of clothing to explore themes of power and masculinity.
In Act 1, Scene 3, Ross and Angus address Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth, disturbed that the Weird Sisters' prophecy seems to have been fulfilled, insists that the title does not belong to him:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Macbeth: The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me
In borrowed robes?
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Literary Allusions:
Macbeth contains several literary allusions. In Act 1, Scene 7, Lady Macbeth makes a reference to the proverb of the cat that wished to eat fish but refused to wet its feet:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Lady Macbeth: Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,”
Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?
Act 2, scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Disease and Medicine:
Macbeth is filled with references to both physical and psychological illness. The motif of disease often represents the inner turmoil of characters warped by ambition, while the motif of medicine is associated with political order.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 2, scene 2
Explanation and Analysis—Birds:
Birds are mentioned multiple times throughout Macbeth and serve several different purposes. The presence of different types of birds is often used to set the mood of a scene, characters are compared to birds to emphasize certain character traits, and birds function as a motif to represent the theme of the unnatural.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 2, scene 3
Explanation and Analysis—Milk and Blood:
In Macbeth, milk and blood are both motifs that combine to represent the upholding and sundering of kinship bonds. At one point, Malcolm refers to the "sweet milk of concord," and when milk is mentioned, it is often associated with motherhood and used to symbolize compassion, family, and unity. In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth will be unable to commit an act as ruthless as murder because he is "too full o' th' milk of human kindness," metaphorically linking milk to feelings of care and compassion for others. Lady Macbeth again refers to milk when she calls on supernatural forces to purge her of her femininity:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Lady Macbeth: Come to my woman's breasts
And take my milk for gall
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Strange Garments:
At multiple points throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of clothing to explore themes of power and masculinity.
In Act 1, Scene 3, Ross and Angus address Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth, disturbed that the Weird Sisters' prophecy seems to have been fulfilled, insists that the title does not belong to him:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Macbeth: The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me
In borrowed robes?
Related Themes:
Act 2, scene 4
Explanation and Analysis—Birds:
Birds are mentioned multiple times throughout Macbeth and serve several different purposes. The presence of different types of birds is often used to set the mood of a scene, characters are compared to birds to emphasize certain character traits, and birds function as a motif to represent the theme of the unnatural.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Strange Garments:
At multiple points throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of clothing to explore themes of power and masculinity.
In Act 1, Scene 3, Ross and Angus address Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth, disturbed that the Weird Sisters' prophecy seems to have been fulfilled, insists that the title does not belong to him:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Macbeth: The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me
In borrowed robes?
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Literary Allusions:
Macbeth contains several literary allusions. In Act 1, Scene 7, Lady Macbeth makes a reference to the proverb of the cat that wished to eat fish but refused to wet its feet:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Lady Macbeth: Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,”
Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?
Act 3, scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Seeds and Roots:
Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of seeds and roots to illustrate themes of kingship and lineage. Duncan's use of imagery in Act 1, Scene 4, for example, suggests that he views Scotland as a kind of vast garden, with himself as the caretaker:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Duncan: I have begun to plant thee and will labor
To make thee full of growing.
Related Themes:
Act 3, scene 4
Explanation and Analysis—Birds:
Birds are mentioned multiple times throughout Macbeth and serve several different purposes. The presence of different types of birds is often used to set the mood of a scene, characters are compared to birds to emphasize certain character traits, and birds function as a motif to represent the theme of the unnatural.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 4, scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Milk and Blood:
In Macbeth, milk and blood are both motifs that combine to represent the upholding and sundering of kinship bonds. At one point, Malcolm refers to the "sweet milk of concord," and when milk is mentioned, it is often associated with motherhood and used to symbolize compassion, family, and unity. In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth will be unable to commit an act as ruthless as murder because he is "too full o' th' milk of human kindness," metaphorically linking milk to feelings of care and compassion for others. Lady Macbeth again refers to milk when she calls on supernatural forces to purge her of her femininity:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Lady Macbeth: Come to my woman's breasts
And take my milk for gall
Related Themes:
Act 4, scene 2
Explanation and Analysis—Birds:
Birds are mentioned multiple times throughout Macbeth and serve several different purposes. The presence of different types of birds is often used to set the mood of a scene, characters are compared to birds to emphasize certain character traits, and birds function as a motif to represent the theme of the unnatural.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 4, scene 3
Explanation and Analysis—Birds:
Birds are mentioned multiple times throughout Macbeth and serve several different purposes. The presence of different types of birds is often used to set the mood of a scene, characters are compared to birds to emphasize certain character traits, and birds function as a motif to represent the theme of the unnatural.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Seeds and Roots:
Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of seeds and roots to illustrate themes of kingship and lineage. Duncan's use of imagery in Act 1, Scene 4, for example, suggests that he views Scotland as a kind of vast garden, with himself as the caretaker:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Duncan: I have begun to plant thee and will labor
To make thee full of growing.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Scotland:
Throughout Macbeth, characters frequently attribute human characteristics to the nation of Scotland. For example, in Act 4, Scene 3, Macduff personifies Scotland as a fallen soldier who must be protected from attackers:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Macduff: Let us rather
Hold fast the mortal sword and, like good men,
Bestride our downfall'n birthdom.
Act 5, scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Disease and Medicine:
Macbeth is filled with references to both physical and psychological illness. The motif of disease often represents the inner turmoil of characters warped by ambition, while the motif of medicine is associated with political order.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 5, scene 2
Explanation and Analysis—Seeds and Roots:
Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of seeds and roots to illustrate themes of kingship and lineage. Duncan's use of imagery in Act 1, Scene 4, for example, suggests that he views Scotland as a kind of vast garden, with himself as the caretaker:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Duncan: I have begun to plant thee and will labor
To make thee full of growing.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Strange Garments:
At multiple points throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of clothing to explore themes of power and masculinity.
In Act 1, Scene 3, Ross and Angus address Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth, disturbed that the Weird Sisters' prophecy seems to have been fulfilled, insists that the title does not belong to him:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Macbeth: The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me
In borrowed robes?
Related Themes:
Act 5, scene 3
Explanation and Analysis—Disease and Medicine:
Macbeth is filled with references to both physical and psychological illness. The motif of disease often represents the inner turmoil of characters warped by ambition, while the motif of medicine is associated with political order.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Strange Garments:
At multiple points throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of clothing to explore themes of power and masculinity.
In Act 1, Scene 3, Ross and Angus address Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth, disturbed that the Weird Sisters' prophecy seems to have been fulfilled, insists that the title does not belong to him:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Macbeth: The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me
In borrowed robes?
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Scotland:
Throughout Macbeth, characters frequently attribute human characteristics to the nation of Scotland. For example, in Act 4, Scene 3, Macduff personifies Scotland as a fallen soldier who must be protected from attackers:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Macduff: Let us rather
Hold fast the mortal sword and, like good men,
Bestride our downfall'n birthdom.
Act 5, scene 4
Explanation and Analysis—Disease and Medicine:
Macbeth is filled with references to both physical and psychological illness. The motif of disease often represents the inner turmoil of characters warped by ambition, while the motif of medicine is associated with political order.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 5, scene 5
Explanation and Analysis—Literary Allusions:
Macbeth contains several literary allusions. In Act 1, Scene 7, Lady Macbeth makes a reference to the proverb of the cat that wished to eat fish but refused to wet its feet:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Lady Macbeth: Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,”
Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?
Act 5, scene 10
Explanation and Analysis—Milk and Blood:
In Macbeth, milk and blood are both motifs that combine to represent the upholding and sundering of kinship bonds. At one point, Malcolm refers to the "sweet milk of concord," and when milk is mentioned, it is often associated with motherhood and used to symbolize compassion, family, and unity. In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth will be unable to commit an act as ruthless as murder because he is "too full o' th' milk of human kindness," metaphorically linking milk to feelings of care and compassion for others. Lady Macbeth again refers to milk when she calls on supernatural forces to purge her of her femininity:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Lady Macbeth: Come to my woman's breasts
And take my milk for gall
Related Themes:
Act 5, scene 11
Explanation and Analysis—Seeds and Roots:
Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of seeds and roots to illustrate themes of kingship and lineage. Duncan's use of imagery in Act 1, Scene 4, for example, suggests that he views Scotland as a kind of vast garden, with himself as the caretaker:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Duncan: I have begun to plant thee and will labor
To make thee full of growing.
Related Themes:
