Question

What do you think wound up means in the original text in Act I, scene iii, just before the witches encounter Macbeth and Banquo? Why?

a. Tightly coiled
b. Unraveled
c. Calm and relaxed
d. Stressed and anxious

Answer 1

The correct answer is option d. In the context of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' Act I, scene iii, 'wound up' most likely means 'stressed and anxious' due to the tension-filled atmosphere and the witches' foreboding presence before meeting Macbeth and Banquo.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Act I, scene iii of Macbeth, when referring to the phrase "wound up," the most fitting interpretation within the context is d. Stressed and anxious. This expression aligns with the overall tense atmosphere and the witches' foreboding presence right before they meet Macbeth and Banquo. The anticipation of meeting Macbeth after a turbulent battle and the subsequent prophecies create a sense of unease and apprehension. The witches' cryptic conversation and their subsequent interaction with Macbeth heighten this tension, leading to the interpretation of "wound up" as being stressed and anxious. Here are some examples from the text:

• "By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? the thane of Cawdor lives, A prosperous gentleman; and to be king Stands not within the prospect of belief."
• "Time and the hour runs through the roughest day."
• "Being unprepared, Our will became the servant to defect; Which else should free have wrought."