Where does this Shakespeare quote come from and what does it mean.?

Question

"The multiplying villanies of nature do swarm upon him, and fortune, on his damned quarrel, smiling showed like a rebel's whore."

It was in V for Vendetta and I beleive it's Shakespeare, but what writing is it in and what does it mean?

Answer 1

It's from Macbeth -- arguably Shakespeare's greatest play. Basically it means he had bad luck. But the subtext is that he was the author of his own misfortune. By listening to the witches -- basically being seduced by them in terms of letting them convince him to commit murder -- he gave in to an ambivalent attraction. Like a "rebel's whore," the witches both attracted and repelled him. Same with Lady Macbeth, who followed the witches' cue by encouraging him to give in to his (and her, by association) lust for power.

Answer 2

I found this: "The multiplying villanies of nature do swarm upon him, and fortune, on his damned quarrel, smiling, showed like a rebel's whore. But all's too weak; for brave Macbeth...well he deserves that name. Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked bloody execution. Like valour's minion carved out his passage...till he faced the slave; which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him."

You're right so far, but I'm not sure of it's presice meaning. Good luck!

Answer 3

Macbeth.

"Doubtful it stood;
As two spent swimmers, that do cling together
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald--
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villanies of nature
Do swarm upon him--from the western isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;
And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,
Show'd like a rebel's whore: but all's too weak:
For brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name--
Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel,
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like valour's minion carved out his passage
Till he faced the slave;
Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps,
And fix'd his head upon our battlements."

Oh, and the meaning--essentially, that when the odds were against him, he came through.

Answer 4

It's a quote from MacBeth, but beats me what it means.