Question 4 • English 2 Sem 2 (10013400) BCPS 2025-26
Read the excerpt from act 1, scene 5 of The Tragedy of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth has just finished reading Macbeth’s letter about the witches’ prophecies.Lady Macbeth. Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt beWhat thou art promis’d. Yet do I fear thy nature;It is too full o’ the milk of human kindnessTo catch the nearest way; thou wouldst be great,Art not without ambition, but withoutThe illness should attend it; what thou wouldst highly,That [wouldst] thou holily; wouldst not play false,And yet wouldst wrongly win; thou’dst have, great Glamis,That which cries, "Thus thou must do, if thou have it”;And that which rather thou dost fear to doThan wishest should be undone.
Answer
A
through her acceptance of Macbeth’s desire to be king
B
through her characterization of Macbeth as too kind
C
through her fear that Macbeth will gain power without her
D
through her listing of the dishonest acts Macbeth commits
Explanation
Lady Macbeth says Macbeth is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness” to take the quickest path to power. She recognizes that he is ambitious, but believes he is too honorable or kind to do the wrong things she thinks are necessary to become king. This supports the choice that she characterizes Macbeth as too kind.
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