Read this excerpt from act I of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and complete the questions that follow.

This excerpt is from a soliloquy that showcases Macbeth's inner turmoil. The final line references the ongoing conflict between fate and free will.

To understand the meaning of any excerpt, it's crucial to analyze it within context and to utilize contextual indicators to enhance comprehension. This excerpt, from Act I scene 3, features Macbeth's aside, prompted by the witches' prophecy and his initial realization of that prophecy coming true when he becomes Thane of Cawdor. In this aside, Macbeth contemplates the range of emotions surrounding the prophecy's first fulfillment and weighs its implications for his future actions.

Macbeth wonders why, if the prophecies are positive, he is drawn to the idea of murdering King Duncan, which terrifies him as it feels deeply unnatural to consider such an act. This highlights that Macbeth is already deliberating committing regicide in his pursuit of the throne.

This excerpt belongs to a soliloquy that reveals Macbeth's INTERNAL STRUGGLE. He is uncertain about proceeding with the heinous act. The last line relates to the motif of FACADE VERSUS TRUTH