Which translation of the passage best explains macbeth's reasoning for not murdering duncan?
a. duncan is weak and powerless and killing him would be like killing a defenseless baby.
b. duncan is such a good and popular king; it would be cruel to kill him and make the country sad.
c. duncan is like a brother to me and i don't want to have the stain of his death on my hands.
d. my wife doesn't like duncan and is forcing me into committing this horrible crime.

Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. Macbeth of being made Thane of Cawdor, he writes to his wife about it and that what he has been tempted by the three weird sisters. Being excited about being king, also he is disturbed by "New honors" and the working of the supernatural world where "Nothing is/But what is not."

Macbeth deliberates about killing Duncan in scene 7.

"If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well

It were done quickly...

But this blow

Might be the be-all and end-all--here,

But, here, upon this bank and shoal of time,

We'd jump the life to come..."

Thing that Macbeth is concerned about is regicide being a serious crime and a grievous offense. It can upset the Chain of Being, for whom the king was God's deputy on earth. Macbeth is reluctant to kill King Duncan and he is host to the king and should prevent from any kind of harm to the king. In a fear of being punished by heaven to kill a king who is virtuous, Macbeth decides not to murder Duncan and concludes it as his "vaulting ambition."

Therefore, the passage which best explains Macbeth's reasoning for not murdering Duncan is B.Duncan is such a good and popular king; it would be cruel to kill him and make the country sad.

B.Duncan is such a good and popular king; it would be cruel to kill him and make the country sad.  APEX