Question

Close Read: Analyze

Identify the choice that best answers the question.
On her first appearance in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act I, Lady Macbeth speaks a soliloquy that begins with these lines.
The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements. Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full
Of direst cruelty!...
Which of the following statements best explain the dramatic purpose of Lady Macbeth's soliloquy? Choose three options.
A. It reviews the important points in the plot thus far.
B. It explains why Duncan is coming to Macbeth's castle.
C. It illustrates a key contrast between Lady Macbeth and her husband.
D. It gives the audience insight into Lady Macbeth's thoughts and feelings.
E. It provides the audience with a vivid picture of Lady Macbeth's personality.

Answer 1

Lady Macbeth's soliloquy serves several dramatic purposes: providing insight into her thoughts and feelings, giving a vivid picture of her personality, and illustrating a contrast with her husband.

Step-by-step explanation:

Lady Macbeth's soliloquy in Act I of The Tragedy of Macbeth serves several dramatic purposes. First, it gives the audience insight into Lady Macbeth's thoughts and feelings, revealing her ambition and desire for power. Second, it provides the audience with a vivid picture of Lady Macbeth's personality, showing her willingness to do anything, including committing acts of cruelty, to achieve her goals. Finally, the soliloquy illustrates a key contrast between Lady Macbeth and her husband, as she is portrayed as more ambitious and ruthless than Macbeth himself.