"To mankind in general Macbeth and Lady Macbeth stand out as the supreme type of all that a host and hostess should not be"

Max Beerbohm's quote offers a sharp, satirical observation of the characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, casting them as epitomes of what hosts need to not be. His statement is deeply rooted in the notorious actions and ethical deterioration of these characters in Shakespeare's disaster, "Macbeth". At its core, the quote critiques the dreadful effects of aspiration and ethical corruption that unfold in the play, utilizing these characters as archetypes of hostility and betrayal rather than hospitality and altruism.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth subvert the conventional expectations of a host and person hosting, who are preferably associated with warmth, generosity, and the security of their visitors. Rather, they exploit their roles to achieve their wicked goals. In the play, their castle ends up being a sly façade, a location where appearances are starkly contrasted by underlying treachery. The most apparent infraction of hospitality takes place in the murder of King Duncan. The heinous act of killing a visitor-- particularly a king under their roofing-- transgresses the sacrosanct tenets of hospitality, making them not just poor hosts, but emblematic of ultimate betrayal and ethical disintegration.

Beerbohm's quote highlights the universal expectations of ethical conduct and the sharp discrepancy from those principles showed in "Macbeth". The dramatic irony in the play-- where guests are duped under the guise of warm hospitality-- highlights the peril of unattended aspiration and duplicity, acting as a classic warning. Beerbohm's choice of the phrase "supreme type" suggests that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth reach an unparalleled level of infamy, their actions working as a long lasting pointer of the mayhem that ensues when the bounds of moral and social order are annihilated. Thus, the quote is not merely a review of private failings but a more comprehensive commentary on the dreadful potential of human nature when moved by greed and deception.