Kingship vs. Tyranny

These flashcards are for the theme of 'Kingship vs. Tyranny' in Macbeth.

What Jacobean belief held that a monarch was chosen by God to rule, making regicide a sin against God himself?

The Divine Right of Kings.

How does Shakespeare present King Duncan as an embodiment of the Divine Right of Kings?

Duncan is portrayed as a virtuous, gracious, and divinely appointed ruler whose death throws the natural world into chaos.

What is the term for the killing of a king, considered the worst possible crime in Jacobean England?

Regicide.

The disruption of the natural order following Duncan's murder, such as horses eating each other, is an example of what literary device?

Pathetic fallacy.

In Act 2, Scene 4, an Old Man reports that a mousing owl has killed a falcon. What does this unnatural event symbolise in relation to kingship?

It symbolises Macbeth (the inferior owl) wrongfully killing King Duncan (the superior falcon), disrupting the Great Chain of Being.

Macduff refers to Duncan's body as the Lord's anointed temple. What does this metaphor reveal about Macduff's view of kingship?

It reinforces the idea that the king is God's chosen representative on Earth, making his murder a 'most sacrilegious' act.

In contrast to the chaos following Duncan's death, how is Macbeth's death presented at the end of the play?

It is celebrated as a moment of liberation for Scotland, restoring order and stability.

Whom does Malcolm test in Act 4, Scene 3 to ensure their loyalty to Scotland before revealing his own virtuous nature?

Macduff.

What is the collective term for the qualities Malcolm lists, such as justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness, that are essential for a good monarch?

The 'king-becoming graces'.

By listing the 'king-becoming graces', what does Shakespeare implicitly contrast Malcolm with?

He contrasts Malcolm's ideal kingship with the tyrannical rule of Macbeth, who possesses none of these virtues.

In Act 4, Scene 3, Malcolm personifies Scotland, stating, I think our country sinks beneath the yoke; / It weeps, it bleeds. What does this reveal about his character?

It demonstrates his deep patriotism and compassionate concern for his country's suffering under a tyrant.

What historical event in 1605, a failed assassination attempt on King James I, likely influenced the themes of regicide and treason in Macbeth?

The Gunpowder Plot.

At the beginning of the play, the bloody sergeant praises Macbeth's battlefield courage. By the end, Malcolm calls him a dead butcher. What does this trajectory show?

It shows Macbeth's descent from a noble warrior to a despised tyrant.

Complete the quotation from Macbeth lamenting his lack of an heir: Upon my head they placed a crown / And put a sceptre in my gripe.

…fruitless crown / And put a barren sceptre…

What is the significance of Macbeth's fruitless crown and barren sceptre to the theme of kingship?

It signifies that his reign is unnatural and temporary, as he has no legitimate lineage to continue his rule, contrasting with a true king's dynasty.

According to reports from the battlefield in Act 5, how do Macbeth's soldiers serve him?

They serve him out of constraint, not love; their hearts are 'absent too'.

What does the quote those he commands, move only in command, / Nothing in love reveal about Macbeth's style of rule?

It reveals he rules through fear and force (tyranny) rather than inspiring genuine loyalty (kingship).

How does the description of Duncan as an innocent lamb contrast with Macbeth as an angry god?

It juxtaposes the gentle, divinely appointed king with the violent, vengeful, and illegitimate ruler.

At the play's conclusion, Macduff hails Malcolm as King of Scotland. What does this action signify?

It signifies the restoration of the rightful, divinely ordained monarch and the end of tyranny.

Despite also committing regicide, why is Macduff's killing of Macbeth seen as a just act?

It is justified because Macduff is acting as an agent of justice and vengeance to restore the rightful king and free Scotland from a tyrant.

According to BBC Bitesize, Duncan is a kind and generous king, but what is his key weakness as a leader?

He is too weak and overly trusting, as shown by his misjudgment of both the original Thane of Cawdor and Macbeth.

What does Malcolm represent in Shakespeare's presentation of three different leaders?

He represents a healthy balance, combining the good qualities of both Duncan (kindness) and Macbeth (strength) to be an ideal king.

The title Macbeth feels hangs like a giant's robe / Upon a dwarfish thief is an example of what recurring motif?

The motif of borrowed or ill-fitting clothes.

What does the clothing motif, such as the giant's robe, symbolise about Macbeth's kingship?

It symbolises that his title is illegitimate and he is not fit for the role of king; he is overwhelmed by a position he has stolen.

While Macbeth becomes a tyrant, what term does Young Siward use to describe him in Act 5, Scene 7?

He calls Macbeth a 'tyrant'.

In Act 5, Scene 8, Macduff refers to Macbeth with the zoomorphic term hell-hound. What is the effect of this label?

It dehumanises Macbeth, associating him with savagery and the Devil, stripping him of any remaining nobility.

What is the ideological belief, prevalent in Jacobean times, that the universe has a fixed, divinely ordained hierarchy with the king just below God?

The Great Chain of Being.

How did Macbeth's murder of Duncan violate the Great Chain of Being?

By killing his king, Macbeth tried to rise above his God-given rank, which was a sin against the natural and divine order of the universe.

Shakespeare believed a good monarch was needed to provide what three things for a country?

Stability, security, and progress.

The reaction to Duncan’s death is apocalyptic chaos, while Macbeth’s is celebration. What does this contrast reflect?

It reflects how both kings ruled and how they were viewed by their country, contrasting the impact of a true king's death with a tyrant's.

Macbeth's ambition is described as his hamartia or _, which is a key element of his character as a tragic hero.

fatal flaw.

How do the masculine qualities that make Macbeth a celebrated warrior, such as bravery and violence, prove catastrophic for his kingship?

These qualities, when applied to ruling a country rather than fighting a battle, transform into tyranny, paranoia, and brutality.

Malcolm's final speech promises to restore order. What specific action does he take to begin rewarding his followers?

He names his thanes and kinsmen the first earls that Scotland has ever had.

What does Macduff's decision to give the crown to Malcolm, rather than take it himself, demonstrate about his character?

It demonstrates his loyalty and respect for God's will and the rightful line of succession, showing he is not driven by personal ambition.

The Witches' prophecy that Banquo's sons will be kings undermines Macbeth's rule from the start. Why does this create paranoia for Macbeth?

It means his act of regicide was ultimately for the benefit of Banquo's lineage, not his own, making his power feel insecure and temporary.

In his final lines, Macbeth refuses to yield, / To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet. What does this defiance reveal about his character?

It shows a return to his warrior pride, choosing to die fighting rather than be humiliated, but it also confirms his ultimate rejection of the rightful king.

What key difference distinguishes Macbeth's ambition from Macduff's actions, even though both take fate into their own hands?

Macbeth's actions are driven by selfish personal ambition, while Macduff's are prompted by his love for his country and the rightful king.

In Act 3, Scene 6, Lennox sarcastically discusses Macbeth's pious rage in killing Duncan's guards. What does this reveal about how Macbeth is perceived by his lords?

It reveals that the lords are beginning to suspect Macbeth's guilt and see through his facade of loyalty, referring to him as a 'tyrant'.

What is the significance of the fact that kingship is the destination or goal of all the action in the play?

It establishes the theme of kingship as central, making the play an exploration of what it takes to be a good king versus a tyrant.

Shakespeare suggests that a country's health is tied to its monarch. How is this shown through the personification of Scotland?

Under Macbeth's tyranny, Scotland 'weeps', 'bleeds', and has 'gashes' added to her wounds, suffering as a person would.