Question

read the passage from act 3, scene 1 of the tragedy of macbeth.
macbeth. upon my head they placd a fruitless crown,
and put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
thence to be wrenchd with an unlineal hand,
no son of mine succeeding. if t be so,
for banquos issue have i fild my mind;
for them the gracious duncan have i murderd;
put rancours in the vessel of my peace
only for them; and mine eternal jewel
given to the common enemy of man,
to make them kings, the seed of banquo kings!
how is the use of metonymy in the underlined text appropriate to macbeths purpose?
○ it uses items associated with macbeths newly acquired title to convey his frustration.
○ it uses items associated with being king to indicate that macbeth will never have power.
○ it uses items associated with wealth and status to describe macbeths accomplishments.
○ it uses items associated with having strength to illustrate macbeths prowess as a warrior.

Explanation:

Metonymy here uses "crown" and "sceptre" (symbols of kingship) to stand for Macbeth's royal title. Macbeth calls them "fruitless" and "barren" because he has no sons to inherit his throne, and he believes Banquo's descendants will take power instead. This conveys his frustration at gaining the crown only to have it not pass to his own line. The other options are incorrect: the text does not say he will never have power, nor does it focus on his accomplishments or warrior prowess.

Answer:

It uses items associated with Macbeth's newly acquired title to convey his frustration.