Which is the best example of a tragic impulse from Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth?

A. Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking because of her guilt over the murders.

B. Macbeth is overconfident about victory because of the witches' prophecies.

C. Macbeth shows courage when he refuses to surrender to Macduff.

D. Macbeth realizes the witches' prophecies were false when he sees Birnam Wood advancing.

Question

English

Amy Wheeler

16 January, 18:38

Which is the best example of a tragic impulse from Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth?

A. Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking because of her guilt over the murders.

B. Macbeth is overconfident about victory because of the witches' prophecies.

C. Macbeth shows courage when he refuses to surrender to Macduff.

D. Macbeth realizes the witches' prophecies were false when he sees Birnam Wood advancing.

+1

Answers (1)

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Sidney Vargas · Answer 1

A tragic impulse is an impulse that leads a character to destruction, either of himself (or herself) or of another.

Therefore, the example that best illustrates a tragic impulse would be B.

It is because of the witches' prophecies that Macbeth believes his wishes will be fulfilled. His overconfidence leads to his destruction. Thus, this confidence is a tragic impulse.