Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires

To remember this quote use the following mnemonic.

Hollywood stars hide your fires. 

Let a knot light our way.

We can see my black and deep red desires. 

"Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires." Macbeth says this out loud but ensures no one can hear him in act 1, scene 4, line 50. He says it in response to King Duncan announcing that Duncan's son will be the next king. Macbeth begins to realize he'll have to take matters into his own hands if he wants the crown. 

Meaning

• "Stars, hide your fires" - Macbeth is calling on the stars (a metaphor for light, goodness, or divine order) to stop shining. He doesn't want anything illuminating his thoughts.  

• "Let not light see my black and deep desires" - He acknowledges that his ambitions are dark and evil (he's thinking of murdering King Duncan) and he wants to keep these thoughts hidden from the world - and perhaps even from himself or from God. 

Exam advice 

• Interpretation - Macbeth is asking for darkness to conceal his ambition. This shows he is aware of how morally wrong his desires are, but he's still tempted to pursue them. 

• Language - Contrast light versus dark. Light symbolizes truth and morality, while darkness represents evil and secrecy. 

• Language - The metaphor "black and deep desires" shows his ambition is both dark and intense, suggesting how powerfully it drives him. 

• Theme - Macbeth's inner conflict is a central theme of the play. 

• Theme - Good versus evil is another theme with light and dark imagery reflecting the battle between conscience and temptation. 

• Appearance versus reality - Macbeth wants to hide his true intentions. 

• Character development - This moment shows the beginning of Macbeth's descent into moral corruption. He hasn't acted yet, but the thought has taken root.