Question

in this excerpt from act 3, scene 1, macbeth remembers that the witches also had a prophecy for his friend banquo. in this passage, \gripe\ means \grasp,\ and \unlineal\ refers to someone not descended from macbeth.
macbeth. they the witches hail’d him father to a line of kings:
upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,
and put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
thence to be wrench’d with an unlineal hand,
no son of mine succeeding.
–the tragedy of macbeth,
william shakespeare
this excerpt develops the universal theme \the quest for power\ by suggesting that ambition
○ can be overcome.
○ can never be fully satisfied.
○ is the only way to gain power.
○ is passed from parent to child.

Explanation:

To determine the correct option, analyze the excerpt. Macbeth's crown is "fruitless" and scepter "barren" (no son to succeed), showing his ambition for power is unfulfilled. "Can be overcome" is wrong (his ambition drives him, not overcome). "Only way to gain power" is not supported (text focuses on unfulfilled ambition, not method). "Passed from parent to child" is wrong (his son won't succeed, and Banquo's line will, so power isn't passed to his child). "Can never be fully satisfied" fits: his crown and scepter are fruitless/barren, meaning his ambition for lasting power (succession) is unmet, so ambition isn't fully satisfied.

Answer:

B. can never be fully satisfied