Question

Select the correct text in the passage. In act I, scene III, of Macbeth, the witches address Macbeth as Thane of Glamis. When they foretell that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and king, he is bewildered. Soon after, a soldier informs him that Macbeth is now the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth wonders to himself whether all the prophecies will come true. Which lines in the excerpt show that Macbeth is on the verge of giving in to temptation, knowing very well that he is considering committing a terrible crime? MACBETH: (Aside.) Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme. I thank you, gentlemen. (Aside.) This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill; cannot be good:—if ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings: My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man, that function Is smother'd in surmise; and nothing is But what is not.

Answer 1

The lines that show that Macbeth is on the verge of giving in to temptation, knowing very well that he is considering committing a terrible crime are:

"Macbeth wonders to himself whether all the prophecies will come true". He knows that in order to become King, he has to commit a terrible crime, killing his cousin Duncan and he is thinking of doing this.

Answer 2

The correct answer is "if ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth?"

In this part of Macbeth's monologue we can see Macbeth's doubt and uncertainty. He wonders why would the witches lie after telling him the truth. He starts to believe that the second profecy, just like the first one, will come true, and thus starts to consider about commiting the horrible crime that would be necessary for that to occur.