Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Kingship (Contrast between Duncan and Macbeth (They are the two main kings…
Kingship
Contrast between Duncan and Macbeth
They are the two main kings shown in the play
Duncan is shown to be the ideal king - respected, generous, humble
Macbeth is shown to be almost the complete opposite to Duncan
Duncan acts as a foil to Macbeth
Duncan was respected by his subjects:
he hath honoured me of late
,
Macbeth had to rule by terror
I am in blood stepp'd in so far
Duncan rewards those loyal to him:
With his former title greet Macbeth
Macbeth kills Banquo:
(Banquo is... mine enemy
Even Duncan's naive nature is shown to be endearing:
There's no art / to find the mind's construction in the face
Macbeth's view of Duncan
Even Macbeth views Duncan as a good King
He hath honoured me of late
This Duncan hath borne his faculties meek
His virtues will plead like angels... against the deep damnation of his taking off
Macbeth knows it is wrong to kill Duncan:
(I) should against his murderer shut the door / not bear the knife myself
Unnatural happenings
Macbeth's killing of Duncan unleashes chaos in men's world and natural world
'tis said (the horses) eat each other
A falcon, tow'ring in its pride of place, was / by a mousing owl, hawk'd at and kill'd
Lots of references to animals eating each other - parallels to the way that Macbeth has usurped the throne from Duncan
By the clock 'tis day / and yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp
Divine Right of Kings
At the time, the belief was held that the King was appointed to rule by God, and was God's representative on Earth
This meant that the King was virtually infallible, could do no wrong and had absolute power over all his subjects
When Macbeth kills Duncan, he is seen as having committed a crime against God himself - sacrilegious
Most sacrilegious murder hath broke open / the Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence / the life of the building
Contextually, it was relevant
At the time of writing, James I had only just been appointed King
There had been a period of monarchical instability, when Elizabeth was getting older, and had still not named an heir, so the topic of the monarchy was particularly relevant at the time
There are lots of references to James I's insecurities eg the witches threaten to
tempest-tost
Great Chain of Being
During Elizabethan and Jacobean times, people believed in a natural order that had been ordained by God, in which every living creature had its proper place, as a link in the Chain
So long as the natural order was not disturbed, society would function harmoniously
The balance or equilibrium in society is upset when this natural order is interfered with by the conduct of human beings
Sickness imagery
After Duncan's death, Scotland is personified repeatedly as a sick person
Some say the Earth / was feverous and did shake
It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash / is added to her wounds
Duncan
Shakespeare draws our attention to the fact that King Duncan is so far away from the fighting that he only hears what happens by reports from the battlefield
Shakespeare then mentions the Norwegian King, Sweno, reminding us that a King should be at the front line, leading his troops
Macbeth has therefore taken Duncan's place at the frontline of battle, foreshadowing how he will take Duncan's place later
Edward and Macbeth
The piety of Edward contrasts with Macbeth's inability to pray:
the most pious Edward
wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen?'
The ability of Edward to heal his subjects contrasts with the view of Macbeth as a sickness:
the healing benediction
Light and Dark Imagery
Darkness does the face of Earth entomb / when living light should kiss it
The contrast of light and dark shows the darkness that Scotland is now subject to - the unnatural gloom that now covers it due to the evil and darkness present within
Good King
Malcolm and Macduff's conversation with each other highlights 'good' kingly qualities
justice, verity, temperance, stableness / bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness / devotion, patience, courage, fortitude
Duncan's death
Duncan's death was deemed so horrific that it was not even shown on stage