Question

read the passage from act 3, scene 1 of the tragedy of macbeth. macbeth. upon my head they placd a fruitless crown, and put a barren sceptre in my gripe, thence to be wrenchd with an unlineal hand, no son of mine succeeding. if t be so, for banquos issue have i fild my mind; for them the gracious duncan have i murderd; put rancours in the vessel of my peace only for them; and mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man, to make them kings, the seed of banquo kings! what does macbeths use of metonymy in the underlined text refer to? macbeths conscience, which makes him feel guilty for having killed duncan to become king macbeths childless state and the fact that he has no children to inherit his title macbeths marriage to lady macbeth, which has become strained in the wake of the murder macbeths desire to attain power at all costs, even if it means committing a crime

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of the metonymy in "fruitless crown" and "barren sceptre", we analyze the context. "Fruitless" and "barren" imply lack of offspring. Macbeth is concerned about no son inheriting his title (seen in "No son of mine succeeding" and focus on Banquo's issue becoming kings). The other options: conscience (not tied to "fruitless/barren"), marriage strain (not the focus), or desire for power (doesn't fit the "fruitless/barren" imagery of no heirs).

Answer:

B. Macbeth's childless state and the fact that he has no children to inherit his title