Read the excerpt from act 3, scene 4 of The Tragedy of Macbeth. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have just finished giving a banquet following Macbeth’s coronation. They are discussing the future of their kingdom and their rule. Macbeth: It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood: Stones have been known to move and trees to speak; Augurs and understood relations have By maggot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth The secret’st man of blood. What is the night? How does the personification of stones and trees contribute to the apprehensive mood of the excerpt?
Answer
A
by emphasizing Macbeth’s ability to uncover secrets
B
by describing where Macbeth will hide from his actions
C
by signaling that Macbeth will continue murdering others
D
by highlighting that Macbeth’s crimes may be revealed
Explanation
Macbeth says that even stones have moved and trees have spoken, suggesting that nature itself can reveal hidden truths. He then mentions birds bringing forth “the secret’st man of blood,” connecting these strange events to the exposure of a murderer’s secrets. This creates an apprehensive mood because Macbeth fears his crimes may be revealed, so the correct choice is “by highlighting that Macbeth’s crimes may be revealed.”
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