Macbeth characteristics - quotes

Quotes that match the characteristics of Macbeth.

Courageous, valiant:
"Ill fight til from my bones, my flesh be hacked" Act 5 scene 3
He says this after he finds out there is an army coming to defeat him. It means he will be courageous and fight til death.

Appears to be loyal, patriotic, noble:
"The service and the loyalty I owe in doing the pays itself" Act 1 scene 4
This was quoted by King Duncan. It shows Macbeth's loyalty and devotion to the king.

Ambitious:
"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent" Act 1 scene 7
Essentially, Macbeth is admitting that his ambitious nature is the only thing motivating him to assassinate the king, which is something that leads men directly toward disaster. Macbeth acknowledges that ambition is his only driving force and understands that there will be consequences for his actions.

Deceptive, false:
"None of woman can harm Macbeth" Act 4 scene 1
Macbeth believes that no human can harm Macbeth but Macduff was born as a c-section which grants him a chance at defeating Macbeth.

Ruthless, callous, tyrannical:
"Malcolm and Donalbain, the Kings two sons, are stolen away and fled, which puts upon them suspicious of the deed" Act 2 Scene 4
Macbeth tries to pin King Duncan's death on his two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, so they take the fall for Macbeth's actions.

World weary:
"I gin to be a-weary of the sun" Act 5 scene 5
Macbeth is saying that because of the news he just heard, he's starting to get tired of everyday life and wants ordinary reality to disappear. "I gin to be a-weary" means "i'm beginning to feel tired and dissatisfied". When he says "sun" hes referring to life as we know it.

Philosophical:
"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." Act 5 scene 5
At first, Macbeth generally means that life lacks substance comparing life to an actor who, as said in the following line, doesn't have enough time on stage but is performing the best he can, nevertheless until the play is abruptly over. In the last two lines, Macbeth is comparing life to a story told by someone who lacks intelligence; therefore, the story is nothing more than meaningless rambling.

Brave:
"For brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name- Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like Valour's minion carved out his passage" Act 1 scene 2
The Captain gives King Duncan the impression of Macbeth being a great and brave leader.

Defiant:
"i dare do all that may become a man who dares do more is none" Act 1 scene 7
Macbeth responds in defence meaning "I dare to do everything that is suitable for a gentleman to do, anyone who does more than was is gentlemanly is not a gentleman". He's saying he is not a coward and will not be defied by others for being nothing more than a gentleman.