Both Uses of
recoil
in
Macbeth
- A good and virtuous nature may recoil
In an imperial charge.p. 141.2 *recoil = pull backeditor's notes: This could be paraphrased as: "Even a good and virtuous nature may pull back from its goodness when faced with a command from a powerful ruler."
- Who, then, shall blame
His pestered senses to recoil and start,
When all that is within him does condemn
Itself for being there?p. 167.8recoil = to move backward suddenlyeditor's notes: This could be paraphrased as: "Who, then, could blame his troubled mind for pulling back in fear, when everything inside him strongly criticizes itself for existing in the first place?"
Definition:
to move backward suddenly (sometimes figuratively)
especially:
- the backward jerk of a gun or cannon when it is fired
- when a person flinches (suddenly draws back) from someone or something, as with fear, disgust, or pain
- when a person is emotionally repulsed, as by disgust
- when something intended to go in one direction figuratively falls back in the opposite direction; for example, a story told to hurt someone that comes back to hurt the teller