Kingship

Thesis

-The theme kingship is central is exploration of power legitimacy and moral order. Shakespeare contrasts the qualities of a divinely-appointed monarch with those of tyrant who seizes power illegitimately. Causing disruption and chaos in the natural world

Point 1 King Duncan is a righteous and generous king when Macbeth says “his virtues plead like angles, trumpet tongue” ACT 1 SCENE 7

Simile and alliteration stress how good of a leader Duncan was -“plead” illustrates that Duncan is trusting and virtuous. Macbeth fears that eternal damnation which is more evident that he’s morally conflicted- “angles trumpet”- killing a virtuous person like Duncan would alert the great heavenly authorities and disrupt the great chain of being. The alliteration emphasises the warning as its memorable- t sounds as shrill alarms as angles will be loud- angles are biblical and trumpet symbolises warfare, potentially the murder of the king in this case

Furthermore “his silver skin laced with his golden blood” ACT 2 SCENE 3

Shakespeare expresses how honourable Duncan was as a leader when Macbeth described his corpse with such respect and admiration. The nouns silver and golden has connotations not just of royalty, but of that which is precious and rare.

-“laced” Macbeth refers to Duncan’s corps and even though he killed him macbeth can’t help but show admiration that he had for him, expressing how good of a leader he was

-the metaphor of “golden blood” describe how pure Duncan’s blood was and how even in his death,his greatest can still be seen.

We could also say Duncan isn’t a good king as he says “Brave Macbeth” in ACT 1 SCENE 4

Dramatic irony as the audience knows that Macbeth bravery won’t stop there as it would lead him to murder King Duncan and take the thrown

Also “O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman”

ACT 1 SCENE 2

It shows a good sign of Duncan’s kingship as he’s praising Macbeth but he’s has to do as he owns him for killing the rebels

-This is also dramatic irony as we know Macbeth isn’t worthy because he’s already thinking about Duncan’s death.

-The use of the adjective ‘valiant’ describes Macbeth as fearless warrior with honour and nobility particularly in the context of the royal court and code of chivalry which the Renaissance admired. But we found out he’s neither demonstrating how someone appears through their words and actions as exemplifies Duncan as a fool

-Furthermore it shows Duncan does not learn from his mistakes as Macbeth is another one of his trusted thanes like the previous one that rebels against him

Macbeths disillusionment with kingship with the quote “Upon my head they placed , a fruitless crown” ACT 3 Scene 1

-“placed is carefully crafted- he’s meticulously manipulated his position as a king through illegitimacy.

-Macbeth feels that his kingship is empty and meaningless. The term “fruitless crown” suggest that his reign brings no lasting benefits or legacy, and his power is unfulfilling. This reflects his growing sense of insecurity and discontent with his position.

Context:In Jacobean time kingship was seen as divine right and any ruler who gained power through threachery would have been considered illegitimate and unnatural. Macbeths inability to enjoy his kingship is a sign of illegitimacy.

Therefore Macbeths reign obtained through murder is marked by dissatisfaction and fear, which shows that his kingship is not true or stable

We see that a wrongful king causes disruption in natural word of order when “A falcon” was killed by a “mousing owl”

ACT 2 SCENE 4

-The natural order has been subverted small owns are now killing falcons. It suggests the behaviour of Macbeth has become unnatural it has caused the natural world to fall apart and the natural order of things to go wrong.

-Just like kings shouldn’t be killed by white subjects,powerful falcons should not be killed by weak owls. Hierarchy was vital to a country’s stability. The divine rights of king meant that hierarchy should not be challenged.The idea of “mousing owl” with associates of small size and lack of strength is killing a “towering falcon” suggesting power and immense size links with the unatural idea of killing the king.

We see the death of Scotland like it’s a morning poison when Malcolm says “O Scotland O Scotland” ACT 4

-Hyperbole and repetition. Emphasises his distress at the fall of Scotland under Macbeths tyranny. Laments the loss of order and morality.

-There’s personification. He personifies Scotland. Speaking to it like it’s a person

Point 3 Malcom is the sense that he will be the perfect king who commits himself to Scotland and a saving grace to chaos when he says “Modest wisdom plucks me from overcredulous haste”

-Malcolm is wise enough to not act too quickly so he’s wise enough to test Macduff loyalty and not to trust him immediately.

-This is different to his father Duncan as he trusted Macbeth too easily.He uses the term modest to show that he’s humble and wise and that’s what makes a good king.