Question

Which lines in this excerpt from act III of Shakespeare’s Macbeth refer to Macbeth’s insecurity because of the threats to his kingship?

Answer 1

I think It would be this line, "Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly: better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace." Because in it Macbeth is talking about eating a meal with fear and terrible dreams. He also mentions that they are nightly, and that it might be better to be with the dead. That creates a picture in the readers mind that allows you to infer that Macbeth worries daily about power and who he has to kill to keep that power. However at the same time he might be living with the guilt of all the killing he has done to gain his own peace. That could be talking about how he had to kill people to keep his power.

Answer 2

Hi, and welcome to QuestionCove!
In the future, when making posts, please try to include all the relevant information (like the "excerpt from Act III" mentioned by the question):

LADY MACBETH: Naught's had, all's spent, Where our desire is got without content: 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy, Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.
(Enter Macbeth.)
How now, my lord! why do you keep alone, Of sorriest fancies your companions making; Using those thoughts which should indeed have died With them they think on? Things without all remedy Should be without regard: what's done is done.
MACBETH: We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it; She'll close, and be herself; whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth. But let the frame of things disjoint, Both the worlds suffer, Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly: better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave; After life's fitful fever he sleeps well; Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison, Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing, Can touch him further.

Answer 3

I was able to find this excerpt via a quick search on Bing, since it appeared in a very similar question; still, I cannot be 100% sure that it is the excerpt *your* question refers to. If it is, I'll have this to say about it:

We're looking for lines that show "Macbeth's insecurity because of threats to his kingship"; any mention of fears or worries (specifically related to "threats to his kingship") would be our targets.
Having said that, I think the response given above sounds reasonable: