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What did giving Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor foreshadow?

A) Giving Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor foreshadowed his eventual rise to the throne of Scotland.
B) Giving Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor foreshadowed his downfall and eventual death.
C) Giving Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor foreshadowed his exile from Scotland.
D) Giving Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor foreshadowed his alliance with the Norwegians.

User Aubrey
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The correct answer is option A) Giving Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor foreshadowed his eventual rise to the throne of Scotland.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Macbeth is given the title Thane of Cawdor, it serves as a crucial moment of foreshadowing in Shakespeare's play Macbeth. This event primarily foreshadows Macbeth's eventual rise to the throne of Scotland, an ambition sparked by the witches' prophecy which also hints at his potential for great and dark deeds.

However, the title also has a subtle implication of his downfall and eventual death, as the previous Thane of Cawdor was a traitor, suggesting a parallel between the betrayal of the former thane and the future treachery of Macbeth himself. The prophecy and the new title plant seeds of ambition and suggestiveness in Macbeth's mind, driving him to consider the murder of King Duncan. His internal conflict in response to the witches' prophecy and the subsequent granting of the Cawdor title reflects his torn nature between loyalty and vaulting ambition.

The correct answer, which encompasses both aspects of the foreshadowing, is: A) Giving Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor foreshadowed his eventual rise to the throne of Scotland and B) Giving Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor foreshadowed his downfall and eventual death.

User Wex
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