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Macbeth. I conjure you, by that which you profess, Howe'er you come to know it, answer me:

Though you untie the winds and let them fight Against the churches; though the yesty waves
Confound and swallow navigation up -The Tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespear

Read the passage. Which mood does the underlined personification best support?
a. anxious
b. confused
c. hostile
d. solemn

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

The personification of the 'yesty waves' in Macbeth creates a hostile mood, which mirrors the internal conflict and overall turbulent atmosphere of the play. The correct answer is option c.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the passage from The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth conjures the witches to answer him, regardless of the chaos it may bring. The personification in the line "though the yesty waves confound and swallow navigation up" effectively establishes a hostile mood. This imagery of natural elements in turmoil reflects the internal conflict and tension Macbeth is experiencing. The hostile forces of nature mirror the tumult in Macbeth's own mind and the literal storms he's willing to unleash to gain knowledge from the witches.

The broader play is infused with motifs of unnatural acts and disturbances in nature that often underline key developments in the plot or the psychology of the characters, further reinforcing the hostile mood.

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