Question

read the excerpt from act 1, scene 5 of the tragedy of macbeth. lady macbeth explains to macbeth that it is important to behave appropriately as the king and his attendants are about to arrive. the word thane is a title for a scottish nobleman.
lady macbeth. your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters. to beguile the time, look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower. but be the serpent undert.
lady macbeth states, \your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, / but be the serpent undert.\ how is this simile persuasive?
it predicts that macbeth will be overly friendly to their guests and they will become suspicious.
it reminds macbeth of the need to appear as a welcoming host to conceal his evil plans.
it convinces macbeth that scheming with his wife is easier than carrying out the actual deed.
it suggests that macbeth should indulge the king for the sake of gaining a new title.

Explanation:

• Analysis of the simile:
• The simile “look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t” is a metaphorical way of advising Macbeth.
• The “innocent flower” represents the outward appearance that Macbeth should present - being welcoming, kind, and like a good host (as a flower is generally seen as a pleasant and harmless thing).
• The “serpent under’t” represents his true, hidden intentions (as a serpent is a symbol of deception and danger in many literary and cultural contexts).
• Evaluation of each option:
• Option 1: The simile is not about predicting overly - friendly behavior that causes suspicion. It's about hiding true intentions while having a good outward appearance.
• Option 2: This option aligns with the analysis. It emphasizes the need to have a welcoming (flower - like) appearance to hide (serpent - like) evil plans.
• Option 3: The simile is not about comparing the ease of scheming with a wife and carrying out the deed. It's about appearance and reality.
• Option 4: There is no mention in the simile about gaining a new title. It's about hiding current evil plans (presumably the plan to kill the king at this point in the play).

Answer:

It reminds Macbeth of the need to appear as a welcoming host to conceal his evil plans.