All 4 Uses of
malice
in
Macbeth
- Fears and scruples shake us.
In the great hand of God I stand, and thence,
Against the undivulged pretense I fight
Of treasonous malice.p. 71.7malice = evil intenteditor's notes: This could be paraphrased as: "Our fears and moral doubts disturb us, but I place my trust in God and, from that stance, I fight against a hidden plot full of treachery and evil intent."
- We have scotched the snake, not killed it.
She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice
Remains in danger of her former tooth.p. 93.2 *malice = evil actionseditor's notes: This could be paraphrased as: "We’ve injured the threat but not eliminated it. It will recover and become dangerous again, and our insufficient evil actions leave us vulnerable to being hurt by it in the future."
- Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever he sleeps well;
Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further.p. 93.6malice = evil actions
- I grant him bloody,
Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful,
Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin
That has a name.p. 143.6malicious = wanting to see others suffer
Definition:
the intention or desire to see others suffer