Read the excerpt from act 1, scene 5 of The Tragedy of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is ranting at Macbeth because he has decided against their plan to murder the king. Lady Macbeth: What beast was’t, then, That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man. Which best explains the intended effect when Lady Macbeth says, "When you durst do it then you were a man”?
Answer
A
It reveals the way others see Macbeth.
B
It explains the type of man she thinks Macbeth can be.
C
It challenges Macbeth’s manhood.
D
It implies that she thinks Macbeth is very manly.
Explanation
Lady Macbeth argues that Macbeth was a man when he was brave enough to agree to the murder, implying that backing out makes him less of one. She is using his sense of manhood to pressure and shame him into following through. So the line challenges Macbeth’s manhood, rather than showing that she thinks he is already very manly.
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