Which of the following statements provides the best analysis of the metaphor Macbeth uses in his soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 7, lines 1-28?

Question

a
Macbeth compares his ambition to the wind because it is blowing him in a direction that he wouldn’t have otherwise gone.
b
Macbeth compares assassination to a serpent in the grass waiting to sneak up on the unsuspecting king.
c
Macbeth compares murdering the king to a “poisoned chalice” because the act could, ultimately, cause his own demise.
d
Macbeth compares Duncan’s virtues to the crying of a naked newborn babe because everyone will be devastated if he dies.

Answer 1

The statement that provides the best analysis of the metaphor Macbeth uses in his soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 7, lines 1-28 is:

c Macbeth compares murdering the king to a “poisoned chalice” because the act could, ultimately, cause his own demise.

In this soliloquy, Macbeth grapples with the consequences of his ambition and the moral implications of killing King Duncan. The metaphor of the "poisoned chalice" encapsulates the idea that while the act might bring temporary power or fulfillment of his ambition, it carries the risk of severe and potentially deadly repercussions for himself.