Final answer:
The doctor's response to Macbeth regarding Lady Macbeth's condition is that he can only treat physical ailments, and as such, the problems she faces are beyond his abilities to cure. The correct answer to the student's question is d) the doctor insists on treating only physical issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Macbeth, when Macbeth seeks help for Lady Macbeth's psychological distress, the doctor responds with a truthful statement regarding the limits of his medical abilities.
He suggests that the issues plaguing Lady Macbeth are beyond his scope of treatment because they stem from guilt and moral dilemmas rather than a physical ailment that can be cured with medicine. The doctor implies that spiritual or psychological intervention is needed, rather than a medical one, making it clear that he deals only with physical health.
Specifically, the doctor says to Macbeth, "Therein the patient must minister to himself." This response indicates that Lady Macbeth's problems are internal, and it is up to her to find peace or resolution with them. The doctor's inability to treat Lady Macbeth highlights the theme of guilt and psychological torment that cannot be healed by conventional means. It suggests that some consequences of actions, especially those as severe as regicide, cannot be undone or treated medicinally.
To answer the student's question, the doctor does not offer a cure for moral problems, nor does he give Lady Macbeth a soothing potion. He does not explicitly advise Macbeth to consult a priest, but his words hint at a need for introspection or spiritual aid. Thus, the most accurate option, based on the doctor's perspective that he treats only physical issues, is that the doctor insists on treating only physical issues (option d).