Read the passage from act 2, scene 3 of The Tragedy of Macbeth. Macduff: Confusion now hath made his masterpiece! Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord’s anointed temple, and stole thence The life o’ the building! Why is the metonymy in the underlined text appropriate for this speech?
Answer
A
It shows Macduff’s belief that he should be king.
B
It suggests that no one is worthy enough to succeed Duncan.
C
It describes the fragility of the king’s corpse.
D
It conveys the king’s importance to the country of Scotland.
Explanation
Macduff calls Duncan’s body “the Lord’s anointed temple” and describes his life as the building’s life. The temple stands for the king, suggesting that Duncan is sacred and central to Scotland’s order. This conveys the king’s importance to the country, rather than Macduff’s own claim to the throne or the corpse’s fragility.
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