Question

act ii - scene 4
use the following passage to answer questions 8 through 10:
ross: \ha, good father, / thou seest the heavens, as troubled with mans act, / threatens his bloody stage. by th clock tis day. and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp. / ist nights predominance or the days shame / that darkness does the face of earth entomb / when living light should kiss it?
old man: tis unnatural, / even like the deed thats done. on tuesday last / a falcon, towring in her pride of place, was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.\
ross: \and duncans horses (a thing most strange and certain), / beauteous and swift the minions of their race, / turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, / contending gainst obedience, as they would / make war with mankind.\
old man: \tis said they eat each other.\
if the owl and the falcon symbolize characters in the play, who might each represent?
o owl - duncan/falcon - macbeth
o owl - macbeth/falcon - duncan
o owl - lady macbeth/falcon - duncan
o owl - lady macbeth/falcon - macbeth

Explanation:

In the context of the play, Duncan is a noble and rightful king (like a falcon in its "pride of place"). Macbeth, driven by ambition and evil (associated with the night - hunting owl), murders Duncan. The owl (Macbeth) preys on the falcon (Duncan).

Answer:

Owl - Macbeth/Falcon - Duncan