Question

Read the excerpt from act 1, scene 3, of the tragedy of macbeth. angus. we are sent to give thee from our royal master thanks; only to herald thee into his sight, not pay thee. ross. and, for an earnest of a greater honour, he bade me, from him, call thee thane of cawdor: in which addition, hail, most worthy thane! for it is thine. banquo. what! can the devil speak true? macbeth. the thane of cawdor lives: why do you dress me in borrow’d robes? what is macbeth asking ross? why do you address me as the thane of cawdor if the thane is still alive? why do you give me a gift that you borrowed from the thane of cawdor? why do i have to dress in these robes if the thane of cawdor lives? why do i have to wear robes that belong to the thane of cawdor

Answer 1

The correct answer to this option is A : Macbeth is asking Ross why he is being addressed as the Thane of Cawdor if the current Thane of Cawdor is still alive.

In the excerpt from Act 1, Scene 3, of The Tragedy of Macbeth; Macbeth is confused because he believes that the Thane of Cawdor is a prosperous gentleman and does not understand why he is being given this title. This dialogue reveals Macbeth's surprise and uncertainty about his newly bestowed title.

In this excerpt, Macbeth questions why he is being given the title of Thane of Cawdor when the current thane is still alive. The term "dress me in borrowed robes" is a metaphorical expression, suggesting that Macbeth feels undeserving or uncomfortable with the bestowed title since it rightfully belongs to the living Thane of Cawdor.