Final answer:
Macbeth's line about the crown searing his eyeballs reflects his torment and desire to become king, hinting at the moral conflict and ambition driving his actions. So, option (4) "The sight of the crown distresses him" is the correct interpretation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the line "thy crown does sear mine eye-balls" from Shakespeare's "Macbeth," Macbeth is expressing a figurative and metaphorical response to Duncan's crown. The term "sear" in this context means to burn or brand, but it's not a physical burning; it's a metaphor for the distress and inner turmoil that Macbeth is experiencing. So, option (4) "The sight of the crown distresses him" is the correct interpretation. Macbeth, at this point in the play, is contemplating the consequences and moral implications of his ambition for the throne. The crown symbolizes not just authority but the moral and emotional burden that comes with it. Macbeth is distressed by the internal conflict and the weight of the decisions he is about to make in his pursuit of power.