kingship quote analysis

‘I have begun to plant thee and will labour to make thee full of growing.’

Shakespeare uses the metaphor of a plant to show how the rewards that Duncan gives Macbeth and Banquo will continue to grow. This shows his kindness and creates dramatic irony as Macbeth later goes on to betray him

‘His virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued’

Shakespeare uses the simile to emphasise Duncan’s holiness and the holiness of the monarchy. This emphasises how important the role of kingship was in the Jacobean audience and how Duncan was a good king, contrasting Macbeth later in the play

The simile emphasises the holiness of Duncan’s character and how he has been appointed by God. The alliteration of ‘trumped tongued’ juxtaposes the alliteration of ‘deep damnation’ which portrays how Macbeth and Duncan are opposites and how Macbeth certainly does not have the right to the throne.

‘Most sacrilegious murder hath broke open the Lord’s anointed temple and stole thence the life of the building.’

Shakespeare uses the metaphor of Duncan being the ‘Lord’s anointed temple’ to show how the Jacobeans believed that Duncan was appointed by God. This shows the importance of kingship and emphasises how Macbeth’s actions go against God and against Christianity

Awake, awake! Ring the alarum bell. Murder and treason! Banquo and Donalbain! Malcom awake!’

The repeated use of exclamations shows the chaos of the situation which emphasises how sinful Macbeth’s actions were. Alternatively, the chaos might be used to forebode the chaos that Scotland is about to go into.

‘deep damnation of his taking off’

The alliteration of the plosive d’s emphasises the sinful and unnaturalness of Macbeth’s character and actions. It shows how Macbeth is aware of how his actions will overthrow the great chain of being and how they open the door to a sinful and chaotic world.

‘Here it not, Duncan, for it is a knell, that summons thee to heaven or to hell.’

It appears as if Macbeth is somewhat oblivious to the divine right of kings as he questions whether Duncan will go to heaven or hell.

‘His silver skin laced with his golden blood’

The use of colour portrays Duncan’s holiness which emphasises the importance of the monarchy and the horror of Macbeth’s regicide.

‘the night has been unruly’

Before Duncan’s death has even been noticed by the other characters, there is reference to how nature has been disrupted. This emphasises the speed of this disruption and how much the break of the great chain of being effects nature.

‘A falcon … was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.’

This is a contrast to the usual order of nature, showing how by Macbeth breaking the great chain of being, the rest of the order in the world has been broken.

‘Beauteous and swift … turned wild in nature.’  

The juxtaposition of adjectives emphasises how nature has changed and is not how it should be.

‘New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows strike heaven on the face’

Shakespeare uses the list of three to emphasise just how much Scotland is suffering under Macbeth’s rule. The repetition of ‘new’ effectively portrays how Scotland did not used to face these problems, and that they were only caused by the ruling of Macbeth. This emphasises how bad his ruling is and the effects of breaking the divine right of kings.

‘Bleed, bleed, poor country!’

The personification of Scotland emphasises just how badly it is suffering, as if it is an actual person.

‘Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rent the air are made, not marked.’

The syndetic list of three strongly emphasises the extent of which people are suffering in Scotland, and the negative effects of Macbeth’s ruling. This shows the reader the importance of a good monarch and good ruling of a country, which might be used to please James I as well as make the reader dislike Macbeth as a character.

‘good men’s lives expire before the flowers in their caps’

The use of the flower imagery might be used as a juxtaposition to the dying and illness in Scotland at the time. The semantic field of death further emphasises how Scotland is suffering and how bad a ruler Macbeth is.

‘like stars, shall shine on all deservers’

The motif of stars and light can be linked to goodness, honesty, virtue, and integrity. These are all characteristics which Duncan values and sees in his son as future king.

‘stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires’

This metaphor immediately contrasts what Duncan says. This highlights how Duncan and Malcom are righteous and moral, whereas Macbeth is driven by greed and hides his true intentions.

‘weak, poor innocent lamb to appease an angry god’

The use of biblical imagery emphasises the extremities of both characters. It suggests how Malcom has been chosen and is favoured by God, whereas Macbeth has gone against god and given into greed and temptation of the devil.

‘Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.’

The metaphor creates a sense of hope, suggesting that Malcom can recover the country. The direct reference to Lucifer and how he became the devil is in comparison to Macbeth, portraying how Macbeth’s evil and acts against god are that of the devil.

‘like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief’

The simile presents how Macbeth was not rightfully on the throne, and he stole it. It belittles Macbeth and minimises him to just a ‘thief’, showing how no one respected him as king.

‘What I am truly, Is thine and my poor country's to command’

His words emphasise how a king was expected to be led by his people. This makes it clear that Malcom will lead the country with the peoples’ best interest in mind, completely juxtaposing macbeth