From his mother's womb untimely ripp'd

To remember this quote use the following mnemonic.

From his mother's womb he was not born. It was an untimely event. 

They ripped his mothers clothes open to do a caesarean.

"From his mother's womb untimely ripp'd." Spoken by Macduff during his final confrontation with Macbeth. Act 5, scene 8, line 15. 

Meaning 

• "From his mother's womb untimely ripp'd." - Macduff is revealing that he was not born in the usual way. He was delivered by caesarean section (surgically removed before natural birth).

• Why it matters - This means Macduff is not technically born of woman so he can fulfil the witches' prophecy and kill Macbeth. See, "None of woman born shall harm Macbeth." Act 4, scene 1, line 79.

Exam advice

•  Context - Macbeth believed the witches' prophecy that, "None of woman born shall harm Macbeth," meant no one could kill him. But here, Macduff reveals he's the exception. 

• Theme of fate and prophecy - Shakespeare uses this moment to show that the witches' words were deceptive but not false. Macbeth misunderstood the prophecy.

• Dramatic irony and tragic downfall - Macbeth's false confidence based on his misreading of the prophecy, leads directly to his death. 

• Structure and climax - This is a turning point. The prophecy is finally explained, and Macbeth's fate is sealed. 

• Tragic hero - This moment completes Macbeth's tragic arc: He realises too late that his trust in the supernatural was misplaced.