MALCOLM. What will you do? Let's not consort with them. To show an unfelt sorrow is an office Which the false man does easy. I'l
l to England. DONALBAIN. To Ireland, I. Our separated fortune Shall keep us both the safer. Where we are, There's daggers in men's smiles. The near in blood, The nearer bloody. MALCOLM. This murderous shaft that's shot Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way Is to avoid the aim. Therefore, to horse, And let us not be dainty of leave-taking, But shift away. There's warrant in that theft Which steals itself when there's no mercy left. William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act II, scene iii What reason do Malcolm and Donalbain have for fleeing Scotland? A. They feel guilty about not having been able to stop Duncan's murder. B. They have killed their father and do not want to get caught. C. They are afraid they will be murdered by someone close to them. D. They are overcome with grief at their father's death.
C. They are afraid they will be murdered by someone close to them.
Explanation:
William Shakespeare's tragedy play "Macbeth" is the story of a general-turned-murderer king Macbeth and his equally selfish and power-hungry wife. He even went to the extent of killing the king, Duncan and his former friend, Banquo just to secure his throne.
The excerpt provided in the question is from Act II scene iii, right after the murder of King Duncan. Everyone seems to be shocked with the murder of the king but Donalbain and Malcolm, the young heir apparent and prince of Scotland knew someone close was responsible for the act. They decided to run away out of the country to save themselves from the same fate. They are afraid that they will also be murdered by someone close to them, with Donalbain claiming <em>"There’s daggers in men’s smiles. The near in blood, The nearer bloody". </em>
