Question

excerpt 1: read the excerpt from act 3, scene 1 of the tragedy of macbeth. macbeth is hiring three men to murder banquo.
macbeth. so is he mine enemy; and in such bloody distance
that every minute of his being thrusts
against my near’st of life: and though i could
with bare-fac’d power sweep him from my sight
and bid my will avouch it, yet i must not,
for certain friends that are both his and mine,
whose loves i may not drop, but wail his fall
whom i myself struck down; and thence it is
that i to your assistance do make love,
masking the business from the common eye
for sundry weighty reasons.
excerpt 2: read the excerpt from act 5, scene 3 of the tragedy of macbeth. a servant has told macbeth that the
how does the universal theme “the conflict between loyalty and betrayal” relate to the universal theme “the importance of hope to human happiness” in these excerpts?
○ macbeth regrets putting loyalty to others above his own happiness.
○ macbeth’s betrayal of his devoted friends has left him alone and unhappy.
○ macbeth is betrayed by those around him when he is most in need of hope.
○ macbeth feels hopeless because he was unable to find men who were loyal to him.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The excerpt shows Macbeth plotting betrayal, not regretting loyalty to others. Eliminate.
• Option 2: Macbeth betrays friends (like Banquo) for power. His actions lead to isolation (being alone) and unhappiness, connecting betrayal/loyalty conflict to hope/happiness (lack of hope from isolation). This fits.
• Option 3: The excerpts focus on Macbeth's betrayal, not his being betrayed. Eliminate.
• Option 4: Macbeth hires men to murder, so he found loyal (to his evil plan) men. Eliminate.

Answer:

B. Macbeth’s betrayal of his devoted friends has left him alone and unhappy.