The 32-second Macbeth", a condensed version of the play Macbeth by the Folger Shakespeare Library, is twenty one quotes of some of the most important quotes in Macbeth. Although many of these quotes are necessary to understand parts within Macbeth and to convey important elements of the play, many of these quotes are unnecessary in my eyes, and some things that I feel are extremely important to the story have been left out altogether! To me, in order to get a better feel for the story of Macbeth, some of the twenty quotes many need to be kept, some need to be removed, and then replaced by another, more important quote.
A majority of the quotes stated in the "32-Second Macbeth" are extremely important to play, and should be kept a part of the twenty one quotes. Quote 1, I feel, is important because it is one of the major themes of the play. The witches state this quote in the very beginning of the play, which first of all gives and eerie, menacing tone for the play that is basically kept throughout the play. Also, Quote 1 is important because as I mentioned earlier, it tells a major theme of the play, that not everything is what they seem (exp: Lady Macbeth and Macbeth?s original characters.) The next quote I think is important I Quote 4, spoken by Macbeth, almost saying the same thing the witches said in Quote 1. Although the day weather wise is actually a pleasant day weather wise, it is "foul" because earlier he had fought in a battle and killed a traitor, and although he does not know it, he is about to meet the witches and hear their three prophecies, which lead to almost all of the evil in the play. Quote 5 is another significant quote because it states the most important of the three original prophecies given to Macbeth by the witches. The first prophecy, "Thane of Glamis", is not important because he is already Thane of Glamis, and then the second prophecy, "Thane of Cawdor", is more important but still not needed because one he becomes Thane of Cawdor, that title is not important to Macbeth. But the third of the witches? prophecies, Quote 5, is extremely vital because it can be argued that this is the reason for most of Macbeth?s horrible actions, that this prophecy led him to do things in order to fulfill it. The next important quote is Quote 6, spoken by Macbeth, saying fate will decide whether or not he will become king, which some people may argue (including myself) is the reason behind everything Macbeth does (fate). Quote 7 is another quote I feel should be kept in the "32-Second Macbeth" because it gives you an important first impression of Lady Macbeth. At this point, she has heard of the witches? prophecies, and has come up with the idea of killing Duncan to insure Macbeth?s gaining of the throne. It shows how incredibly evil Lady Macbeth initially was, calling upon spirits to "make her a man" to help her kill the king Duncan. This is important also because it once again refers to Quote 1, that not all things are what they seem. Even though Lady Macbeth is a woman, she is the exact opposite of what a woman in her time would be like and she is extremely masculine. The next quote, Quote 9, is also spoken by Lady Macbeth, and is once again showing her manliness, having to basically push Macbeth into killing Duncan. I feel Quote 12 is the next most significant quote. It is spoken by Banquo, when he is being killed by the three murderers hired by Macbeth to kill him and his son Fleance. I think it is essential that this quote is kept because it is the beginning of Macbeth?s insanity for power. Also, it tells you that Banquo dies, but not his son Fleance, which gives one of the witches? prophecies for Banquo (that his sons will become king) a chance to be fulfilled. Quote 13 is another needed quote because it shows the beginning of change for Macbeth, and a small theme in the play. Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth to calm down, and to forget about everything and just enjoy the fact that he