Read the excerpt from act 5, scene 3 of The Tragedy of Macbeth . Macbeth is alternating between instructing Seyton to ready him for battle and ordering the doctor to cure Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking. A stage direction has been added before the doctor’s last line. Macbeth: Throw physic to the dogs; I’ll none of it. [ To SEYTON.] Come, put mine armour on; give me my staff. Seyton, send out. [To Doctor.] Doctor, the thanes fly from me. [ To SEYTON.] Come, sir, dispatch. [To Doctor.] If thou couldst, doctor, cast The water of my land, find her disease, And purge it to a sound of pristine health, I would applaud thee to the very echo, That should applaud again.—[To SEYTON.] Pull’t off, I say.— [ To Doctor.] What rhubarb, cyme, or what purgative drug, Would scour these English hence? Hear’st thou of them? Doctor: Ay, my good lord; your royal preparation Makes us hear something. Macbeth. [ To SEYTON.] Bring it after me. I will not be afraid of death and bane, Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane. [ DOCTOR looks perplexed by Macbeth’s request and stealthily sidles away. ] Doctor: [ Aside .] Were I from Dunsinane away and clear, Profit again should hardly draw me here. What does the added stage direction reveal about the doctor?
Answer
A
He thinks that he should discuss Macbeth’s request with others.
B
He is confused by Macbeth and needs to think about what he has been told.
C
He feels the urgency of Macbeth’s request and wants to comply with it.
D
He is wary of Macbeth and concerned for his own safety.
Explanation
The direction says the doctor looks perplexed, then stealthily sidles away. Moving stealthily suggests he is trying to leave without drawing attention, and his aside confirms he would rather be far from Dunsinane. Together, these details show that he is wary of Macbeth and concerned for his own safety, not eager to comply.
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